132 



KKXXIES AGRICULTURE. 



Digging, 

 Pitting and 

 Storing 

 Potatoes. 



end of the potato first. This will invariably have 

 one or two eyes. Then revolve the potato in one 

 hand and cut with the other, so as to leave one or 

 two eyes in each set. Split the seed end; by ex- 

 periment this has been found to give the best all- 

 round results. The time to plant early potatoes 

 depends largely upon circumstances. If wanted for 

 the early market it is necessary to have the land 

 thoroughly prepared the previous fall. Plant soon 

 after the middle of April in Central Ontario. The 

 soil being cold so early in the season, in addition to 

 deep subsoiling lime may be used to advantage in 

 warming it so as to make the plant food available. 

 In all cases it is advisable to plant early varieties 

 early in the spring, so that they will be matured 

 before the hot, dry weather, and in good time for the 

 early market. It is better not to plant late varieties 

 until the end of May, in order that they will keep 

 on growing during the hot weather and be ready 

 to harvest by the tenth of October. To recom- 

 mend, from the long list of varieties grown at the 

 present time, the best to plant, is a difficult and un- 

 satisfactory task, as those varieties which are so 

 popular at the present time may, in a few years, be 

 far behind some other varieties now unknown. The 

 Early Rose may be considered an exception, for this 

 variety, which held first place for many years, is 

 to-day still a close rival for first place as an early 

 potato. The Early Six Weeks and Early Ohio are 

 among the first of extra early varieties. Among 

 the late varieties the Delaware stands among the 

 first. 



There are many kinds of implements used in 

 digging potatoes, ranging from the spading fork to 

 the combined digger and picker. See III. 12. The 

 common plow, however, is generally used. The 



