I028 



Rural School Leaflet 



come to maturity. A coat of spray every two weeks throughout the 

 season will keep the new growth of the vines protected to a very large 

 extent. For killing potato beetles, add one pound of paris green or three 

 pounds of arsenate of lead to fifty gallons of bordeaux mixture. Spraying 

 three to five times is followed in practice with profitable results. 



Digging. — If the soil chosen is not stony and the potatoes have been 

 given clean cultivation, a potato digger can be used to good advantage 

 in harvesting the crop. The digger should not cut nor damage the potatoes. 

 Hand-digging is more expensive than machine-digging for a half -acre crop. 

 The digging should be done when the soil is dry enough to rattle from the 

 potatoes in handling. Gather all the tubers that are sound, and weigh 

 the entire crop. 



Choosing the exhibit. — The bushel chosen for the exhibit on prize day 

 should contain the very best of the crop. The tubers should be chosen 

 in accordance with the score card given for the quarter-bushel potato 

 contest. (Page 990.) More than a bushel should be chosen at digging 

 time and stored in a cool, dark place until the time for the exhibit. The 

 result of the contest will be decided on the following score : 



Yield 30 points 



Profit shown 30 points 



Bushel of potatoes 20 points 



Story of the crop 20 points 



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