266 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



In most ordinary soils the seed pieces should be planted about four 

 inches in depth, dropping the pieces from twelve to fifteen inches apart 

 in the row. The rows should be from two and one-half to three feet 

 apart. To obtain maximum yields on a small area where plenty of 

 fertilizer is used and the plants can be given all the w^ater they need, 

 the rows may be two and one-half feet apart, as this gives many more 

 hills to the acre than the wider distances. There is less room, however, 

 for easy cultivation and hilling of the plants during the summer. 



The yield on most soils of the State will be considerably increased by 

 a liberal use of fertilizer. If thorouglily decomposed barnyard manure 

 can be obtained, an application of from ten to fifteen tons per acre will 

 be very beneficial, especially if the potatoes are not to be planted on 

 old sod land. A further application of commercial fertilizer running 

 2 to 4 per cent nitrogen, 6 to 8 per cent phosphoric acid, and 8 to 10 

 per cent potash, at the rate of from one-half to one ton per acre will, 

 in most cases, prove a profitable means of securing a considerably 

 increased yield. 



The potato field should be kept free from weeds during the summer 

 liy frequent, thorough cultivation. The plants should be given an 

 abundant and uniform suppl.v of water during the season, in connection 

 with good drainage. Potatoes require a considerable amount of water 

 but will not tolerate stagnant w^ater or soggy, poorly drained soil. At 

 no time during their growth shoidd the plants be given a check through 

 lack of moisture or want of cultivation, or through any other cause. 

 If the tubers are not kept growing constantly and uniformly they will 

 become IcQobby and uneven and are likely to he more or less unfit for 

 market purposes. 



During the summer the various cultivations should throw the soil up 

 around the plants until they are well hilled. This is necessary for 

 several reasons; tubers of best quality are formed several inches below 

 the surface of the soil ; they are also less likely to be affected with 

 brown streak ; and tuber moth infestation will be very slight, if at all, 

 when the plants are well hilled. 



The field should be carefully inspected at blooming time to find any 

 mixture of varieties and all plants shoMdng a different color of blossoms 

 from the general field should be dug up. If the crop is being grown 

 for seed purposes all weak a,nd diseased plants should also be pulled 

 up. Hills showing a markedly weak appearance should also be removed. 



The potatoes may be harvested by hand or with machinery but great 

 care should be taken that the tubers are not cut or bruised. If they are 

 moist when dug they may be permitted to lie on the ground until dry 

 l)efore picking up, but should not be left in the sun for more than a 

 short time, perhaps a half hour, as they soon become sunburned and the 

 culinary quality is injured. 



For judging the crop in the prize potato contest the following general 

 scale will be used : 



Yield 50 points 



Grade, freedom from mixture, extra large and small potatoes, 



^ true to type, free from sunburn, or injury, smooth and bright 25 points 



Freedom from fungous diseases or insect pests ^ 15 points 



Table quality 10 points 



W. V. Shear, Avssistant Horticulturalist, 

 United States Department of Agriculture. 



