228 THE PEOPLE'S FARM AND STOCK CYCLOPEDIA. 



best mechanical condition. I would advise that the manure be 

 applied in the fall immediately after breaking, as early plant- 

 ing gives the best results, and it is usually difficult to wagon 

 over the plowed ground as early as you want to plant in the 

 spring. As soon as the land is in a condition to be worked well 

 in the spring, go to work mellowing the surface. Do not at- 

 tempt to plow it again, no matter how much it has been packed 

 and settled, but with the best implements at your command 

 work down from the top. The disk harrows are advisable for 

 this purpose, but you can work it fine and deep with the cultiva- 

 tor with bull tongues and a heavy, common harrow if you will 

 take time. As you pulverize it you will mix the manure thor- 

 oughly, and when you have six inches of mellow, fine soil, you 

 are ready to plant. 



PLANTING. I prefer to lay off my potato land with a shovel 

 plow with a long narrow point, as it makes a deep furrow with 

 plenty of loose soil in the bottom. I believe in close planting, 

 so as to fully occupy the land and enable the crop to shade the 

 soil thoroughly, and think for most varieties, rows three feet 

 apart, and hills eighteen inches in the row, will give the best re- 

 sults. This will give 9,680 hills to the acre; and an average of 

 one pound to the hill will make a yield of over one hundred 

 and sixty bushels per acre. I think it a great advantage to 

 step on the seed in planting, so as to press it well down in the 

 furrow and bring it in close contact with the soil. The ad- 

 vantages are that it is less likely to be displaced in covering, 

 and less earth will be required to cover it to a sufficient depth, 

 it will be less likely to be frozen when the planting is done 

 early, or to be dried out when late, and it will start quicker 

 when pressed closely in contact with the soil, than if lying in 

 loose earth. 



The amount of seed to be used is a matter of considerable 

 importance, and one on which farmers should experiment care- 

 fully. Page 229 shows the result of an experiment made by J. 

 L. Delano, of Massachusetts. Eight plots of twenty square rods 

 each were planted with hills three feet by eighteen inches 

 apart, and seed prepared as described. Medium sized potatoes 



