432 THE POTATO 



out with a sufficiency of moisture in the soil 

 from the winter rains. Late in the spring 

 one — or perhaps two, irrigations might be re- 

 quired while the potatoes are making the greatest 

 growth. After the tubers are full size they are 

 dug. 



After the first crop is taken from the ground 

 (whether this be potatoes, another root crop, or 

 grain) the ground should be thoroughly irrigated 

 before a seed bed is made in which to plant the 

 second crop of potatoes. The irrigation of the 

 second crop, during its early growth, will be more 

 important than the early irrigation of the first 

 crop, because the weather is hot and plenty of 

 moisture must be provided for greater evapora- 

 tion at this season. Irrigation of the second crop 

 must be discontinued in time to permit the ripen- 

 ing of the tubers in dry ground. 



The moisture supply to a potato crop must be 

 constant. If the ground is allowed to become too 

 dry, the tubers begin to mature, and when an- 

 other supply of moisture is provided, a new growth 

 is started, making little wart-hke growths on the 

 already formed tubers. 



Practically all of the crop in the Sacramento 

 Valley would probably be sold almost direct from 

 the field, making storage unnecessary. If it was 

 desired to store potatoes, a cool, underground eel- 

 car, or a regular cold storage room, should be pro- 

 vided. Heat, rather than cold, is the factor to 

 guard against here. 



The potato crop requires deep, thorough prepa- 

 ration and cultivation of the soil; consequently, 

 is a good crop in a rotation. After a crop of po- 

 tatoes has been grown the soil is in fine mellow 

 condition for a succeeding crop, for in addition to 



