Potato Culture. 



ii 



caused by severe drought occurring 

 when the tubers are about two thirds 

 grown, causing them to partially ripen. 

 On the return of moisture, a new 

 growth takes place, which shows itself 

 in knobby protuberances. 



CUT AND UNCUT SEED. 



Many growers argue that potatoes 

 should be planted whole. The only 

 plausible theory in support of whole 

 seed is, that the few eyes that do start 

 have a greater supply of starch avail- 

 able from which to obtain nutriment 

 until the plant can draw support from 

 the soil and atmosphere. But expe- 

 riments also demonstrate that if all 

 the eyes except one or two near the 

 middle be cut out of the seed-potato, 

 such seed will push with the greatest 

 possible vigor. 



Many eyes of the uncut seed start, 

 but the stronger soon overpower the 

 weaker, and finally starve them out. 

 A plot planted with three small, un- 

 cut potatoes to the hill, and another 

 planted with three pieces of two eyes 

 each to the hill, will not show much 

 difference in number of vines during 

 the growing season. 



The poor results sometimes attend- 

 ing cut seed are almost always trace- 

 able to improper seed improperly 

 cut. Only large, mature, sound tubers 

 should be used. Cut them in pieces 

 of two or three eyes each, taking pains 

 to secure around each eye as much 

 flesh as possible, also under the eye to 

 the centre of the tuber. 



Experiments prove that eyes from 

 the " seed end " produce potatoes 

 that mature earliest; they are also 

 smallest. Those from the large or 

 stem end are largest, latest, and least 

 in numbers. Eyes from the middle 

 produce tubers of very uniform size. 



If small, ill-shaped potatoes be 

 planted on the same ground for three 

 successive years, the results will give 

 the best variety a bad name. 



Much is gained by changing seed. 

 No two varieties are made up of the 

 same constituents exactly in the same 

 proportion ; hence, a soil may be ex- 

 hausted for the best development of 

 one, and still be fitted to meet the de- 

 mands of another. Even when the 

 same variety is desired, experience 

 shows the great benefit of planting 

 seed grown on a different soil. The 

 best and most extensive growers pro- 

 cure new seed every two or three 

 years, and many insist on changing 

 seed every year; and undoubtedly the 

 crop is often doubled by the practice. 



PLANTING AND MANURING. 



Early kinds should be planted as 

 soon as the ground has become suffi- 

 ciently dry and warm. Late market 

 varieties should be planted about two 

 weeks later than the early ones. Un- 

 questionably more bushels can be ob- 

 tained per acre by planting in drills 

 than in hills, but the labor of culti- 

 vating in drills is much the greater. 



Prepare the ground by thorough 

 plowing, making it decidedly mel- 

 low. Mark it out four feet apart each 

 way, if to be planted in hills, by plow- 

 ing broad, flat-bottomed furrows about 

 three inches deep. At the crossings 

 drop three pieces of potato, cut, as 

 directed, in sections of two or three 

 eyes each. Place the pieces so as 

 to represent the points of a triangle, 

 each piece being about a foot dis- 

 tant from each of the other two. 

 If the cut side is put down, it is 

 better ; cover about two inches deep. 

 Where land is free from stone and 

 sod, the covering may be well and 

 rapidly done with a light plow. Im- 

 mediately after planting, sprinkle over 

 and around each hill a large handful 

 of unleached wood-ashes and salt, (a 

 half-bushel of fine salt mixed with a 

 barrel of ashes is about the right pro- 

 portion.) If ashes can not be obtain- 

 ed, as is sometimes the case, apply 



