THE POTATO 245 



"While 'drawing' the sets it is a good plan to 

 have at hand a large pail or a tub containing water 

 to which there has been added a quantity of clay 

 and cow manure which has been stirred until it 

 forms a thin slime. As the plants are pulled from 

 the bed they are taken in small bunches and their 

 roots dipped into this mixture. This process, 

 termed * puddling, ' covers the roots with a coating 

 which not only prevents their becoming dry in 

 handling but insures a direct contact with the soil 

 when they are planted in the field or garden. 



*'The success of the crop depends largely upon 

 the w^ay in which the plants start after being 

 removed from the bed and set in the field or garden. 

 Practical growers always plan to set the plants 

 during a ' season ' or period when the conditions are 

 suitable to a quick start into growth, either just 

 before a rain or as soon afterward as the soil can be 

 worked. The method of setting will depend en- 

 tirely upon local conditions and the acreage to be 

 grown, the essential features, however, being to 

 get the roots in contact with moist earth and the 

 soil firmly pressed about the plants. 



**The use of water around the roots of the plants 

 is desirable under most circumstances, as it not 

 only moistens the soil but assists in settling it about 

 the roots. A large quantity of water is not neces- 

 sary, one half pint to each plant being generally 

 considered sufficient. 



"Where level culture is practised, the plants are 

 set from 24 to 30 inches apart in each direction. 

 On the eastern shore of Virginia the greater portion 

 of the crop is planted 24 inches apart each way, 

 requiring about 11,000 plants to an acre. By 

 planting 30 inches apart each way, only about 

 7,000 plants are required to set one acre. Where 



