388 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Oft. Doc. 



sprout from starting to grow. A short time before planting, the 

 potatoes should be removed to a building and spread out to give 

 them an opportunity to start a good, vigorous sprout before plant- 

 ing. If not properly covered while they are buried, there is danger 

 of the eye being frozen enough to reduce the vitality without freez 

 ing the potato. 



The scab fungus will remain in the ground from one year to 

 another, and if the ground is infested with the scab, or the seed is 

 affected, the seed should be treated with some preventive to insure 

 a crop of clean potatoes. Corrosive sublimate will answer this 

 purpose. It is not expensive and requires very little labor to use 

 it. Dissolve one ounce in eight gallons of water and soak the seed 

 ninety minutes. This should be done before cutting. The seed 

 should be cut with one or two eyes to the piece, depending upon 

 the size of the potato and the number of eyes. I prefer to plant 

 large and medium sized potatoes, and one-eye pieces from the stem 

 end of large potatoes will make large pieces in most varieties. 

 Nearer the seed end the pieces will be smaller and have more eyes. 



Where small potatoes are used for seed, either plant whole or cut 

 the pieces a respectable size regardless of the number of eyes. 

 Potatoes should be planted as soon after cutting as possible. It is 

 not safe to cut a large quantity and pile them up, as they may heat 

 and the seed be injured, so that it will not produce a profitable crop. 

 If small quantities are cut a few days before planting, put in bushel 

 crates, set in a cool place and covered from the wind and sun, no 

 damage will result. Medium sized potatoes can be planted whole 

 if desired, and some prefer that way, but it requires more seed to 

 the acre. A large yield can be secured from a very small amount 

 of seed, by separating the eyes into two or three parts and planting 

 in well prepared fertile soil; but this method will not produce as 

 many potatoes to the space of ground occupied as where whole eyes 

 are planted. 



To grow potatoes easily the grower should be supplied with all 

 necessary machinery. In addition to the plow, a spring-tooth har- 

 row, roller and two-horse cultivator, with which almost every farmer 

 is supplied should be used; it is also essential to have a planter, 

 digger, weeder, smoothing harrow, low wagon with platform and a 

 number of bushel r-rates. A four-row barrel sprayer is very useful 

 for spraying potatoes, to prevent blight and to kill bugs, but can be 

 dispensed with, and the work done with cheaper machinery. 



The ground should not be plowed until dry in the spring on most 

 soils, and in most latitudes. Wire worms and grubs can be de- 

 stroyed by fall plowing, but that leaves the ground exposed during 

 the winter allowing more or less fertility to leach away. The 

 ground should be plowed deeper for potatoes than for corn, and if it 



