306 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



the roots, leaving them in the row to his left. He returns 

 along the row cutting to his right, and leaving the tops with 

 the others. Thus every second space would have a row of 

 tops in it. Another man follows the first and with a blunt 

 hook or a digging fork, takes up the roots and throws two 

 rows into the space beyond the second row; returning, he 

 takes two more rows and throws the roots with the others; 

 thus gathering four rows into one. Thus there will be first 

 a row of tops then a row of roots, and then another row of 

 tops. Next will be an empty space, and then the rows of 

 tops and roots are repeated as before. In loading, the horse 

 and cart (a cart should be kept on every farm where roots 

 are grown) are taken down the empty row, the horse being 

 thus driven through the field without treading on the tops 

 or roots, and the roots are first taken up and carted to the 

 root pit or the cellar, where the cart is tipped and the roots are 

 dumped all at once, without any hand work. The roots are 

 lifted into the cart with the digging forks, which should 

 have curved prongs upon which the roots may be lifted into 

 the cart easily. 



POTATOES are a most important crop for those farmers 

 who keep but few stock, and have a near market in some 

 large city or town. The mode of cultivating them is much 

 the same as that practiced for mangels, excepting that the 

 rows are made 3 feet apart, and the cuttings are dropped in 

 the rows from 12 to 16 inches apart. A clover sod 

 plowed under in the fall and well worked with the Acme 

 harrow in the spring, when 10 or 20 loads per acre of fine 

 manure are given, and mixed with the soil by the harrowing, 

 makes an excellent preparation. By the use of machines 

 for planting, a working soon after planting with a smooth- 

 ing harrow; a good horse hoe to cultivate the rows well and 

 often not earthing up the rows too much and a digging 

 machine; this crop can be grown for 30 cents a cushel in- 

 cluding all expenses. Artificial fertilizers are preferable 

 for potatoes in place of manure; as the ravages of the inju- 

 rious wire worm are avoided by their use. 



Various opinions are held by good farmers in regard to 



