81)6 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



three years to develop the tubers from the seed balls. Now understand 

 that each and every seed taken from the seed balls produce a different 

 variety of potatoes and by this you will see it requires much care and 

 patience; then after all this care we scarcely get five per cent that is 

 worthy of name. 



CULTIVATION. 



Experience and exact experimenting generally favor flat culture, or 

 nearly so. Excessive hilling during cultivating intensifies the injurious 

 effects of dry weather, it results also in breaking many of the feeding 

 roots between the rows which is very injurious to the plants and yield 

 of tubers. It is very beneficial that the crust be broken that has formed 

 after a rain for the benefit of plant growth, it will also kill all weed seed 

 that have germinated and also form a fine dust mulch, if it should 

 happen to be dry. This work may be done with a light one-horse harrow 

 by going twice in a row, but not too clpse to the plants. 



THE POTATO SCAB. 



The potato scab is one of the most widespread diseases affecting the 

 po-.j.to. It is well known that this is a parasitic fungus which lives upon 

 the potato, causing a roughened appearance. Sometimes it may involve 

 the greater part of the potato. Occasionally only a small part of it. 

 This rough or scaby appearance affects the sale of the potato very 

 much as they are not desirable for table use. The scab may be suc- 

 cessfully controlled by treating the seed, previous to planting, with a 

 solution of Corrocive Sublimate. To prepare the solution, first, dissolve 

 two and one-half ounces of corrosive sublimate in two gallons of hot 

 water, and then in twelve hours dilute with clear water, so that the 

 whole quantity makes fifteen gallons. Put this solution in a good barrel 

 and you should have a good coarse sack in order to immerse them in 

 the solution. If your potatoes are dirty, they should be washed in order 

 that the solution may have the desired effect. You may cut the potatoes 

 before or after immersing as you wish. You can put one bushel at a 

 time in the sack to immerse them. You should not leave them in the 

 solution longer than one hour and a half, then lift them out of the 

 barrel and lay two sticks across the top of the barrel and place the 

 sack on the sticks to drain. When done dripping empty them out on 

 boards to dry. As soon as dry they are ready to plant, if cut. Corrosive 

 Sublimate is a poison and must not be placed where it can fall into 

 the hands of children. If any seed is left after planting they should 

 be buried in order that they may do no harm. 



