THE POTATO 357 



good catch of clover has been secured spring plow- 

 ing is satisfactory. The clover is allowed to grow 

 until about May 20th to 25th. The land is then 

 plowed, well disked and harrowed and firmed with 

 a planker, and the potatoes planted fron June 1st 

 to 15th. The most successful growers make an 

 application of manure to clover sod in this state. 



*' Potatoes are planted usually in drill rows, the 

 rows about three feet apart and the seed pieces 

 fifteen to seventeen inches apart in the row. On 

 the heavier land a number of successful growers 

 practise checking the rows three feet apart each 

 way. Very Httle difference in yield has been 

 noticed in a comparison of the two systems in this 

 state. In the sandy loam soil the potatoes are 

 planted about four to six inches deep. In the clay 

 loam soil the depth is a trifle more shallow. 



"The fields are harrowed well at the time of 

 planting and also about the time the potatoes 

 come up. When the rows are visible the culti-, 

 vator is started and the potatoes are given from 

 three to five cultivations during the season. Level 

 cultivation is practised. Very little hilling is 

 done except to ridge the rows slightly at the last 

 cultivation. 



"A good percentage of the potato crop of this 

 state is sold direct to warehouses from the field. 

 If the price is as high as 40 cents per bushel, a 

 large percentage of the crop will go into ware- 

 houses and be shipped to the markets during the 

 fall months. The potatoes of this state are han- 

 dled quite largely through the hands of buyers who 

 ship to commission men in Milwaukee, Chicago, 

 St. Louis, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. All of the 

 large commission houses in Chicago have a num- 

 ber of warehouses in this state. A number of the 



