202 TRUCK-FARMING AT THE SOUTH. 



loads to the acre, by a manure-spreader, and the sets are 

 placed directly upon the manure, at from about twelve 

 to fifteen inches apart. In light, warm land, the sets may 

 at once be covered by the plow to the depth of six inches, 

 and in the subsequent cultivation no hilling up is neces- 

 sary or advisable. On cool, heavy land, it is advisable to 

 cover at first to the depth of three or four inches, and so 

 early in the stage of growth, as not to injure the roots, 

 an additional inch or two may be drawn to the plants by 

 the hoe. Subsequently the workings by plow and hoe 

 should be superficial. As soon, however, as the first 

 shoots become visible, the surface of the rows should be 

 raked over, to loosen the soil and destroy any germinat- 

 ing or young weeds, or a light harrow may be used some 

 time before the sprouts appear above the ground. A 

 single section of the Thomas-harrow with slanting teeth 

 answers the purpose admirably. 



HARVESTING THE CROPS. 



A potato is immature and unfit for food, so long as 

 the skin can be readily slipped from the surface. If 

 dug prematurely, they will be bruised and blackened 

 in the barrels, and be unsalable at fair prices. When 

 the plant dies, and not before, the crop may be gathered. 



A good plowman may be able with a double-mould 

 plow, or potato-digger, to throw out an extensive and 

 less valuable crop than that of the truck-farmer, without 

 too much loss and bruising, but here a plow should only 

 be used to side the rows and the potatoes be dug out with 

 steel-pronged hoes, or potato-drags. 



To avoid unnecessary handling, the potatoes should be 

 assorted as first quality and culls (too small tubers being 

 rejected) in the field. Cloudy weather is the best suited 

 for digging the crop. Potatoes will not endure exposure 

 to the hot sun. If packed while warmed by the sun, they 

 are apt to rot before reaching market. If dug during 



