N-). 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 721 



degree of cooluess not found at the surface. Accordingly the phinter 

 was set to run to a depth of four inches, or thereabout, and the disks 

 threw up a ridge that gave added depth for the time. This ridging 

 of the soil over the row was an old-time practice of the community 

 to secure control of weed growth. The ridges were left about two 

 weeks, and then the ground was floated level, giving fresh, clean 

 ►soil in rows for the potatoes that would soon appear above ground. 

 This method of covering has much to commend it for all loose soils, 

 and probably no better one can be devised. But I found finally that 

 it was all wrong for a heavy soil. Kains would follow our early 

 planting, settling the soil closely about the seed pieces, excluding 

 all air and light. Digging down to see what stand of plants was 

 promised, I found in every wet season that the sprouts, as they left 

 the eyes, were too small and w'eak. They would increase in size as 

 rhey approached the surface that had been made loose with harrow 

 or weeder, but no plant of that sort ever makes a full yield. It was 

 seen that good depth was needed in planting, and yet the results 

 were not encouraging whenever heavy rains came soon afterward. 

 If the soil had been of loose texture the results would not have been 

 grave, but most good potato soils are inclined to heaviness, as only 

 these can withstand drouth with much success. 



The Cornell Station has done invaluable work for growers through 

 the experiments conducted by Professor Roberts and Mr. L. A. Clin- 

 ton. It has called wide attention to the value of tillage and of 

 humus in the soil. This Station has practiced deep coveriog of the 

 seed, throwing (he ridge over the row and dragging it down before 

 the plants were up to the level of the ground. Vigor of the plants 

 caused the good results of the Cornell Station to puzzle me greatly 

 until I visited the Station and examined the soil. It is a loose soil, 

 two -fifths being rotting gravel, and the heavy covering given to seed 

 would not pack. In the case of such soils there can be no particular 

 objection to deep covering. The air is not excluded and strong 

 sprouts can be secured. But the method is not advisable for any 

 other than porous soils. 



Securing Good Buds. — Under the head of ''Budding" reference was 

 made to a modification of the original method that was feasible for 

 the extensive planter. The plan of covering the seed deeply w'as as 

 wrong in theory as it proved to be in practice. The bud on the seed 

 piece was far from light and air when rains had sealed up the ridge of 

 soil thrown over it by the disks of the planter. The result was that 

 the young sprout did exactly what it does when starting in a 

 dark corner of a cellar, or in the center of a pile — it stretched out 

 for the light, making a spindling growth. Seed exposed to the light 

 starts strong budis — there is no stretching toward the light because 

 they are in it. The farmer who plants early and extensively usually 

 46__6— 1902 



