938 Rural School Leaflet 



soms of the tomato vine, the blossoms of the bittersweet, and the blossoms 

 of the potato, you will see one way in which these plants resemble one 

 another. 



We want the boys and girls in New York State this year to know some- 

 thing about a potato crop. Why should you not, even if you should never 

 grow potatoes on a farm of your own? Almost every day you have 

 potatoes for food ; you see them in the markets ; perhaps you wonder about 

 them when you stand in the cellar and see them sprouting and making an 

 effort to reach up to the light. 



Let us have in the rural schoolhouse a special lesson on the potato. 

 We might try it in this way : Are there ten boys and girls in your school 

 who can read ? If so, let each copy one of the questions given below. Put 

 all the questions into a box and have each of the ten children draw one. 

 Let us say John Mason drew No. i. He should read over his question 

 carefully and get all the information connected with it that he can during 

 the following week, from his father and from any fanner in the neighbor- 

 hood. He should also ask the teacher to let him read the article beginning 

 on page 1 1 7 in the teachers' leaflet, in order to see whether he can find an 

 answer to his question. Let each of the other boys and girls do the same 

 with the questions that they have drawn. Then some Friday afternoon 

 have a report to find out which boy or girl has been most successful in 

 his quest. This will be good preparation for the study of the potato to 

 be given in the next leaflet. The questions are as follows: 



1. What kind of soil is best for potatoes? What must the potato 

 grower do if his soil is not in good condition for a potato crop? 



2 . What is the best crop to immediately precede the potato crop ? Why ? 



3. When and how should the potato field be plowed? 



4. How should the potato field be marked? 



5. How is the best seed secured? Which is the better practice, to plant 

 medium or small potatoes from high-yielding hills or to plant a large tuber 

 from a low-yielding hill ? Is it a good thing to use seed that has sprouted ? 

 How should the potato be cut for planting? Why should potatoes be 

 planted immediately after cutting? 



6. How should potatoes be planted? State depth of soil; number of 

 pieces in a hill; and the like. 



7. Can you show the class ten potatoes that differ very much in size 

 and shape? Can you show the other boys and girls how you know that 

 the potato is an underground stem and not a root? 



8. What is the best way to dig potatoes!' 



9. What, is the best way to store potatoes? 



10. Who had the largest potato crop in your community last year? 

 When, where, and how were the potatoes marketed? 



