704 ANNUAL REPORT OF THK Off. Doc. 



it. Tliea begiuiiiiij^ at tlie lower side the potatoes selected as above 

 are packed into the rack stem end down as closely as possible one 

 laj-er deep. Tubers cut or pierced by the tines of a potato digger 

 or fork should) not be used, as they are likely to produce sickly or 

 inferior buds. 



"About six or eight weeks before planting time the rack should be 

 placed in a warm and light place where there is no danger of frost 

 or damage from rats or mice, and tlie trays placed in the rack. If 

 the temperature is moderate — sixty degrees to seventy-five degrees — 

 and a fair amount of light reaches all parts of each tray no further 

 attention is necessary; they do not require watering. After a few 

 days tiny white points will be seen at the 'eyes' of the tubers, and a 

 few days later it will be noticed that one and often two buds on 

 each tuber will have made more growth than the others. These 

 buds are far different from the w^hite, watery 'sprouts' of potatoes 

 kept in a dark cellar. They are thick, firm and tough. If condi 

 tions are right, at the end of six weeks they will be from half an inch 

 to an inch in length, and one-fourth to three-eighths of an inch in 

 diameter, with many rudimentary roots at the base waiting for the 

 moment when contact with mother earth shall enable them to burst 

 forth and go about their work of gathering plant food. At the top 

 of the bud are tiny rudimentary leaves also waiting to do their ap- 

 pointed) work as soon as opportunity is offered. It is well to look at 

 the trays each day, as, if the rack stands against a w^all, it may be 

 found that the buds at the back side of some of the trays where there 

 is insufficient light have a tendency to grow long and white. In that 

 case move the rack out from the wall and change the trays about so 

 as to reverse their position. In such a case more light is what is re- 

 quired. If the buds are not developing rapidly enough give more 

 heat, and if growing too fast or storms and frosts prolong the plant- 

 ing season beyond the usual time, give less or no heat and plenty of 

 light. When budded leady for planting, they may be held without 

 injury for days or even weeks by keeping the racks in a cool, light 

 place. 



"The preparation of the soil does not differ from the course usually 

 followed in growing early potatoes. It should be deeply plowed, 

 made mellow and filled with soluble plant food. For marking out 

 the field, a small plow or some implement making an open furrow 

 about six inches deep should be used. Some fertilizer should be 

 thoroughly mixed with the soil at the bottom of the furrow which 

 process will fill it up one or two inches. We are now ready to put 

 in the tubers. The trays should be taken from the rack and car- 

 ried to the field in a spring w^agon so as not to break the buds by 

 rough jolting. At the field the most convenient way is to place a 

 rack on a wheel-barrow and run it along between the rows. Two 

 persons can work together at setting the tubers, one on each side 



