io86 Rural School Leaflet. 



This will produce a fertilizer containing 3!% nitrogen, 8J% phosphoric 

 acid, 7i% potash. 



If fertilizer is used it must not be allowed to come in direct contact 

 with the seed, especially with the cut surfaces, or it may injure vitality. 

 Many potato planters have fertilizer distributers. If a planter is not 

 used, scatter the fertilizer along the open furrows and mix it with the 

 soil. 



If there is potato-planting machinery on the farm that the boy can 

 handle himself he may use it if he desires, planting his crop in the usual 

 way practiced on the farm. Remember that most machines do not 

 plant deep enough, so " set it down." In good, mellow soil potatoes 

 should be planted four or five inches deep but in heavy soil three inches 

 may be sufficient. If planting machinery is not at hand then the land 

 should be furrowed deeply, making the rows about three feet apart. 



Select a variety of potatoes which is known to grow vigorously in 

 the vicinity and yield large crops. Care should be taken that the seed 

 potatoes have been well kept, that is, have not been chilled, wilted or 

 sprouted. The yield is much affected by the way the tubers have been 

 kept. Medium sized potatoes are desirable for planting. These should 

 be so cut that they will be about the size of a large hen's egg. It is well 

 to scatter a little land plaster over the cut tubers to dry up the moisture 

 on the cut surfaces. The tubers should not be cut long before the 

 planting as they lose vigor rapidly after cutting if not placed in con- 

 ditions favorable to growth. 



The prepared seed should be placed in the furrows about fourteen 

 to sixteen inches apart. If the soil is not very rich and is likely to get 

 too dry the hills would better be eighteen inches apart. The potatoes 

 should be covered with plenty of soil. This may be done with a potato 

 coverer, a plow or a hoe. Strive to have the sets three to five inches 

 deep after the surface is leveled, according to soil. 



About a week or ten days after the potatoes are planted, a spike- 

 tooth harrow may be run over the field to level it and kill any weeds 

 that may have sprouted. A week later harrow again or use a weeder 

 if the plants are well out of the soil. The warmer the soil, the quicker 

 the potatoes "^411 start. Judgment must be used in determining when 

 and how much to harrow. Avoid letting the weeds get started or 

 breaking the tender shoots. As soon as the potatoes are up so that 

 the rows can be followed, run a cultivator between the rows. If the 

 weeds are getting started, work as close to the potatoes as you can 

 without harming them. When working near the potatoes do not culti- 

 vate very deeply. If you already have control of the weeds, the first 



