256 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



Among Goodrich's other seedlings were Gleason, Calico, 

 Harrison, and Early Goodrich. The latter was the parent 

 of the Chicago Market. 



Mr. Goodrich is said to have raised about sixteen thou- 

 sand seedling potatoes from 1848 to 1864. Out of this large 

 number he found only about one in a thousand that he 

 thought enough better than the old sorts to make it appear 

 probable that they would be desirable for cultivation. 

 The work that he did in this line has been of great value to 

 Europe and America. 



Soil and Manure. Potatoes can be grown on soil of 

 almost any composition provided it is well drained, but a 

 light, sandy soil is best. It produces potatoes of better 

 table quality than those grown on rather low, wet, or 

 heavy clayey soils. New soil is most desirable. If old soil 

 must be used, it is best to precede the potatoes with a crop 

 of clover. Clover adds nitrogenous plant food and humus 

 to the soil, and makes it more porous. If potatoes are 

 planted on sod land, the "seed" should always be under 

 the sod, otherwise the crop is liable to suffer from drought. 

 Fresh manure should, preferably, be applied the year 

 before the crop is to be grown. Where clover precedes 

 potatoes, a good time to apply the manure is after 

 the first crop has been cut, or during the previous 

 winter or spring. This gives the manure time for decom- 

 position preparatory to its incorporation with the soil. 

 Soil on which a scabby crop has been produced should 

 not be planted to potatoes again for a number of years. 



Potato Rotations. The advantages of preceding pota- 

 toes with clover have already been referred to. Rotations 

 that include this crop and have been found desirable are as 

 follows : 



(1) Three year: small grain, clover, potatoes. 



