THE POTATO 355 



is sometimes an advantage of having the vines 

 mature during the cool fall months. The season 

 for harvesting the main crop ranges from October 

 1st to October 15th. In unusual seasons of 

 drought or bhght the late crop may be dead as 

 early as September 15th, in which case the har- 

 vesting season is earlier. 



"Potatoes are grown in Wisconsin on both the 

 clay loam and sandy loam types of soil. The large 

 potato belt of the state, comprising Waupaca, 

 Waushara, and Portage counties, runs quite largely 

 to the sandy loam type of soil. There is also con- 

 siderable sandy soil in the newer potato sections 

 in the northwestern part of the state. In this 

 section, where clover grows luxuriantly, the set- 

 tlers seem able to secure very good yields of po- 

 tatoes from the lighter grades of sandy soil. The 

 soil in every potato section of the state varies con- 

 siderably both in mechanical conditions and in 

 fertility, and a wide range of yields is obtained in 

 every section of this state, due quite largely to 

 these varying factors. 



"The central potato district of this state com- 

 prises Waupaca, Waushara, and Portage counties. 

 The counties of secondary importance in this state 

 are Adams, Juneau, Columbia, and Sauk. The 

 three counties mentioned above rank among the 

 thirteen leading producing counties in the United 

 States. The newer sections in this state, especially 

 under development at the present time, are found 

 in the northwestern part of the state and com- 

 prise sections in Washburn, Burnett, Barron, 

 Chippewa, Rusk, and Eau Claire counties. This 

 section is especially adapted to the growing of 

 early varieties, and it is our opinion that north- 

 western Wisconsin will become one of the leading 



