110 AGRICULTURE 



nearly the same as possible. Now weigh the pared tubers. 

 Which lost the larger percentage in paring? Which is 

 easier to pare? Which looks more pleasing for the table? 

 Which would be the better to select for seed? 



4. Bring a sample, of as many different varieties of 

 tubers as can be found in your neighborhood. Learn to 

 recognize the chief breed characteristics so as to identify 

 the different varieties, such as Early Rose, Bliss Triumph, 

 Early Ohio, Gold Coin, Burbank, Rural New Yorker, 

 Walter Raleigh. What are the principal early varieties? 

 Late varieties ? Do you find mixtures in which it is impos- 

 sible to determine the varieties? 



5. Select tubers of the same size from different vari- 

 eties, such as Early Rose and Rural New Yorkers. At 

 your homes try boiling them together. Do they cook in 

 the same time? Try baking, frying, etc. 



6. How deep does your father plow the ground for po- 

 tatoes? How deep does he plant? Does he use commer- 

 cial fertilizers? Does he manure the field for potatoes? If 

 so, is the crop scabby? 



7. What plan is used in selecting seed for your potato 

 crop? Are culls ever used for seed? Is there any more 

 reason in using small potatoes for seed than in taking seed 

 corn from nubbins ? 



8. Suppose that seed potatoes are seventy-five cents a 

 bushel, and that when quartered twelve bushels are re- 

 quired to plant an acre ; also suppose that by planting 

 halves instead of quarters the yield is increased twenty 

 bushels per acre, and that the new crop sells at sixty cents 

 a bushel. Which way of cutting seed is best, and by how 

 much an acre? 



9. Bring samples of potatoes affected by scab ; by rot. 

 Study the effects of each on the tuber. Secure if possible 

 samples of plants affected by blight, and learn to identify 

 the disease. What is the most troublesome potato disease 

 in your region? What is the remedy? 



10. After talking with your father about it, itemize 

 the cost of raising an acre of potatoes. Compare this with 

 the cost of producing an acre of corn ; an acre of wheat or 

 oats. Now, taking the average yield of each crop, com- 

 pare the profit of potato raising with that of other crops. 



