ROOT CROPS. 233 



down all weeds. When ready to dig, the straw can be put up 

 in cocks, like hay, and a good portion of it can be used a second 

 year. One of the most successful potato growers I ever met was 

 using all his straw for this purpose, planting an average of five 

 acres each year in this way. 



VARIETIES. If I should give a list of varieties that had 

 given satisfaction here in my own locality, it would not be the 

 best for a majority of our readers, and as I believe that this is a 

 question which every farmer must settle for himself, I shall not 

 attempt to make out such a list. You will find lists and descrip- 

 tions in the catalogues of all our leading -seedsmen from which to 

 make your selections, and my advice is that you experiment with 

 one or more new varieties each year. I have increased the yield 

 and profits of the potato crop largely by changing varieties, and 

 think that nearly every farmer can do the same. I would ad- 

 vise, in trying any new variety, that but a few be bought; a 

 peck is enough, and often a single pound will be better. A 

 bushel is often grown from a pound, and I have known this 

 yield doubled, and thus in two years a pound will enable you 

 to test a variety thoroughly, and leave seed for one or more 

 acres. In deciding what varieties to plant you must take into 

 consideration table quality, yield, and salability. If you grow 

 only for your own use, a variety that is first-class for the table, 

 even though it will not yield quite so well, will be most desira- 

 ble. For example, I plant early Ohio and Snow-flake for my own 

 use, but Burbank, mammoth Pearl, or Peerless for market. The 

 Burbank I have found especially profitable, as it yields largely, 

 and with a very small per cent of unsalable tubers, and for some 

 years has commanded the highest price in the market; and yet, 

 on my soil, it does not equal in quality the first two named 

 varieties. 



CULTIVATION. Constant and thorough culture will always be 

 found profitable with this crop. The season of growth is short, 

 and we ought to do all we can to push them. Like corn, I think 

 cultivation should begin before they are up, and from that time 

 till the vines fall the land should be kept clean and loose. In 

 some seasons this will require double the number of workings 



