i6 CROP PRODUCTION 



the seeds and store carefully for planting the next spring. 

 In the spring plant and see the development of new tubers 

 when the \ines are dug. 



Insect Enemies 



Find as many stages of the potato beetles as you can 

 and bring to school. 



Do these insects bite the leaves or suck the sap? 



Where and in what stage do they pass the winter? 



Read pages 135-136, Farm Friends and Farm Foes. 



Can you find on the leaves tiny black beetles that 

 jump when disturbed? These are flea beetles. 



Can you see the little holes in the leaves that these 

 flea beetles make? 



How do farmers destroy potato insects? Spray or 

 dust the potato plants in school or home garden with 

 arsenate of lead to prevent injury by these insects. 



Are potato leaves sprayed with Bordeaux mixture 

 injured by flee beetles? 



Fungous Enemies 



Find potato leaves injured by blight. Compare with 

 healthy leaves. 



If there are sprayed potato plants near by see the 

 difference between them and unsprayed plants. Spray 

 your own plots with Bordeaux mixture. 



Find out if the tubers from bUghted plants are more 

 liable to rot than those from healthy plants. 



Find some scabby potatoes. Inquire if any one in the 

 neighborhood soaked the seed potatoes in formalin solu- 

 tion. What was the result? A better way to find out 

 is to soak the seed potatoes you plant in formalin solu- 



