No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 691 



tlie matter out. Assuming th.it the soil need® tlio improvement in 

 texture due to rotting sods, we may be sure that the best of the sod 

 should not be buried in the bottom of the furrow. Therei is more 

 talk than practice of leaving the furrow-slices on edge. This is due 

 to the use of plows having long and curved mold-boards, and to our 

 liking for a smooth appearance in a plowed field. The sod should 

 be left in such position for potatoes that if can be distributed 

 throughout the soil, a fair proportion remaining near the surface. 

 This means the leaving of the furrow-slice on edge, and that is done 

 only by the plow having a short and straight mold-board. This point 

 is not appreciated by growers wiio have a soil naturally loose and 

 able to remain in good physical condition without the aid of or 

 ganic matter, but such soils are the exception. The short and rela- 

 tively straight mold-board leaves the furrow-slice as required by the 

 potato in ground of rather poor texture. It will not pulverize while 

 turning the ground as does the long, curved mold-board, but that is 

 merely one of the drawbacks of farming a soil not perfect in its adap- 

 tability to a desired crop. The plow should be set 1o run true on the 

 bottom, and to turn not more than an inch in excess of what is ac- 

 tually cut by the point. 



Thoroughness in plowing is more important for the potato than for 

 either corn or wheat, necessary as the latter may be. The potato 

 makes in the ground, and is more dependent upon good soil condi- 

 tions than is any of the cereals. If the workman will set the plow 

 to cut a trifle scantily and then hold against the plow-handle to off- 

 set this, the furrow-slice can be partially pulverized with a very 

 short, straight mold-board. 



Time of Plowing. — It is probable that four out of every five of my 

 readers plant early varieties of potatoes, or else plant medium varie- 

 ties early in the season. They have doubtless observed that early- 

 plowed land retains moisture more perfectly than land plowed later 

 in the spring. Recalling the fact that drouth is usiually a factor in 

 cutting yields of potatoes, and that the control of moisture is the first 

 consideration, we learn that it is wise to plow eaily for this crop. 

 There is less loss of soil moisture from the airing given by plow- 

 ing, and there is more opportunity for spring rains to restore the 

 close union of the top soil and sub-soil so that water may rise from 

 below. Much as w^e value an addition of vegetable matter to the 

 soil, we do not want plowing delayed until a growth of clover or 

 rye becomes bulky and woody, as experience teaches that this bulk 

 has robbed the ground of moisture in its growth and interferes with 

 the rise of moisture from the sub-soil when plowed down. Early 

 spring plowing is advisable for most land devoted to potatoes that 

 are matured before the first of September. 



