THE POTATO 419 



high water time in the river an excess of water on 

 the land is pumped out of the ditches and over the 

 levees by immense electrically operated pumps. 

 When irrigation is needed it can be let through 

 the dikes or the same pumps can be used to pump 

 water from the river back into the ditches. When 

 the ditches are filled the land absorbs the moisture 

 readily. When the land is dry there is danger 

 from fire, and this is very hard to control when it 

 gets into the subsoil. A complete fire fighting force 

 is maintained. 



The potatoes are taken to railroad shipping points 

 on boats, and commission men and dealers re-sort 

 before selling to retailers. 



Disease develops rapidly in this moist, rich soil. 

 Careful rotation of crops and perfect control of 

 moisture is necessary to control and prevent dis- 

 eases. 



Practically the entire crop in the district is 

 grown by Japanese and Chinese, Portuguese, and 

 Hindus. Large areas are rented at from $12 to 

 $30 per acre, and sublet in smaller lots to the Japs 

 or Chinese on a share basis, the landlord furnishing 

 land, implements, and seed for 49 per cent, of the 

 crop. 



Seed of the Burbank variety from Oregon is 

 universally used. New seed is secured every two 

 years, so that the only home-grown seed used is 

 that produced the first year from imported stocks. 



The planting period extends from January 15th 

 to July, and the harvesting is continuous from 

 May to January. 



Eight sacks (about 100 pounds to the sack) of 

 cut seed are planted per acre, and the yield is from 

 80 to 150 sacks per acre. 



The potatoes are planted when the land is 



