24^ THE SOILS AND CROPS OF THE FAEM. 



in practice, so far as thickness of planting and quan- 

 tity of seed is concerned. The habit of growth of 

 different varieties is to be considered. Usually the 

 largest yields are secured from rather thick planting. 

 In field culture the rows may be from two and one-half 

 to three feet apart, with the -pototoes dropped from 

 one foot to eighteen inches apart in the row. Some- 

 times they are planted in hills so as to permit cultiva- 

 tion each way. 



The weight of evidence from a very large number 

 of experiments is in favor of the use of medium sized 

 tubers, cut into pieces with two or three eyes each, 

 leaving as much as possible of the potato on each piece. 

 Large yields of excellent potatoes have been secured 

 by planting small pieces with single eyes, or from 

 planting very small potatoes. Planting large potatoes 

 uncut frequently secures a large yield, but often the 

 average size of the potatoes is reduced. The large 

 quantity of seed required is a sufficient objection to 

 this practice. Many successful potato growers use 

 small potatoes and claim that no loss is sustained in 

 .either quantity or quality of the produce, even if the 

 practice is continued for years. 



Hand dropping is the most common practice, al- 

 though there are machines which do the work well if 

 the potatoes or pieces used are of fairly uniform size. 

 Moderately deep planting is recommended, especially 

 on dry, sandy soils. Planting in trenches in which 

 manures are spread, and only partially filling the 

 trench at first, has given good results in many cases. 

 Level culture is better than "hilling up" for most soils. 

 Hand hoeing may be made very effective but is costly. 

 In good soils there is little need of deep cultivation; 



