No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 693 



sod into pieces. TLese were followed by an Acme, and tlieu by a 

 plank float. An estimate of the amount of surface covered by the 

 feet of the horses in all this work is astounding. It may be thought 

 that the harrows repair the damage, but usually they conceal rather 

 than mend it. In a fresh-plowed field the effect of the pressure given 

 by the feet of tlie team goes much deeper than the average harrow. 

 Indeed, thorough as my own harrowing has been, I find the firmed 

 soil below the depth made by the extra large disks. Such pressure 

 immediately under a hill cannot fail to do harm. 



This consideration enforces the necessity of letting a soil become 

 fairly dry in the spring before the harrow goes upon it. It also leads 

 one to defer some of the preparation of the land) until after the plant- 

 ing when the horses can be kept in the middles between the rows. 

 This suggestion is made with some misgivings, knowing the tendency 

 to slight preparation of a seed-bed, and the inclination to promise 

 land additional work that is never given it. But I write of prepar- 

 ing land for an early crop, when rains are sure to firm the plowed 

 ground sulSficiently to put the sub-soil into close contact with it so 

 that moisture x?an rise from below. A later-plowed field must be 

 harrowed" with thoroughness and made reasonably firm to insure 

 against drouth, and at a later period in ihe spring the tramping by 

 teams does not pack a soil so severely. But no matter how early the 

 planting, there should be sufficient harrowing to make a soil fine. 

 After the planting, a deep, thorough tillage can be given to complete 

 the work of preparation. This will be discussed under another 

 head. 



It is always a mistake to plant potatoesi among clods. The work 

 of fitting with barrow and float must be sufficient to give to the piece 

 of seed a surrounding of fine soil. The use of the plank float right 

 after the plow, and again after the harrow, will do much to insure 

 this state of fineness. There is no question in regard to the neces- 

 sity of this much work. Some deeper tillage, however, may be de- 

 ferred, provided one understands the need of it, and will give it be- 

 fore the young plants have sent their roots out into the soil. 



THE SEED. 



Success in potato-growing is dependent largely upon the seed. A 

 large percentage of failures is attributable directly to the character 

 of the seed. While I base what I write iipon the experience gotten 

 year after year in the culture of this crop, and upon the experiences 

 of others, it cannot be expected that some readers will accept readily 

 many of the statements, and to all such the request is made, in the 

 interest of truth and their own income, that they put the doubted 

 statements to the test of field trial. Many a farmer says that po- 



