344 THE POTATO 



Go twice over field with cultivator so adjusted. 

 Then cultivator is arranged with a pair of seven- 

 inch side steels on the two central teeth, and a 

 small ridge of soil, about three inches high, is 

 thrown on to the potato rows, and twice over field. 

 Up to this time the cultivations number seven. 

 Balance of cultivation, usually twelve to fifteen all 

 told, is done with cultivator, gradually widening 

 apart the side steels as the vines develop. Every 

 cultivation is equal to a light dressing of nitrate of 

 soda — forty pounds per acre. Earth mulch is 

 provided, evaporation prevented, aeration and 

 ventilation of soil is established, and lastly weeds 

 are destroyed. Level culture is the plan, but these 

 frequent cultivations ridge up the field consider- 

 ably, which ranges around four inches out of level. 

 The more surface the more evaporation. Culti- 

 vation is discontinued the last of July. Care is 

 taken to go astride alternate rows at each cultiva- 

 tion. With this construction of cultivator the 

 gang bars are each side of wheels. After vines 

 commence to lop, four teeth are placed forward on 

 gang bars. These teeth raise vines up and prevent 

 damage from wheels and teeth. For stray weeds 

 two hand weedings are given during the middle of 

 July and August. 



'* Bordeaux mixture is used freely and vigorously. 

 Stock solutions of copper and lime are kept in 

 readiness; 1,000 to 1,500 gallons Bordeaux applied 

 per acre annually, 125 to 150 pound pressure. 

 Arsenate of lead is added to Bordeaux for the po- 

 tato bugs and larvae. Nozzle angle should be 

 changed from straight to right and left and go re- 

 verse directions at each application. Flank an 

 enemy and he is in a dajigerous condition. Bor- 

 deaux is a protection insurance only. Only a film 



