402 |THE POTATO 



order to conserve moisture and kill the weeds which 

 start after the first harrowing. Spring plowed 

 land should be harrowed immediately after the 

 plow, to prevent loss of moisture. In the drier 

 sections, some form of subsurface packer should 

 follow the plow, and this should be immediately- 

 followed by the harrow to work up a surface mulch. 

 If the soil plows up cloddy, a plank clod masher 

 may profitably be used. 



"The time of planting should be governed 

 largely by the climate and the purposes for which 

 the potatoes are grown. The potato plant needs 

 ample moisture when the tubers are "setting,'* 

 hence the grower should endeavor to have the 

 plants reach that stage of development at the 

 time when the moisture supply is hkely to be 

 favorable. For early new potatoes, the seed 

 should be planted as early in the spring as the soil 

 will permit, on Hght, warm soil. For late potatoes 

 they may be planted as late as the middle of June, 

 provided the moisture supply is ample and con- 

 tinuous, but where summer rains cannot be de- 

 pended upon, the earlier the potatoes are planted 

 the better, if danger from frost is guarded against. 



"Enormous yields of potatoes have been secured 

 under irrigation, but their cultivation is attended 

 with some difficulty. No other crop is so much 

 dependent upon the skilful use of artificial water. 

 The quality of irrigated potatoes may, or may not, 

 be as good as that of those grown without irriga- 

 tion. Good varieties, if well grown, will be good 

 in quality either with or without irrigation. 



"Winter irrigation may be practised very suc- 

 cessfully in potato growing. The fields should be 

 flooded before plowing, and allowed to dry to a 

 tillable condition. This insures perfect condition 



