THE POTATO 93 



furrows were opened. This served to cover the 

 potatoes, the earth being ridged up directly over 

 the potato row. The planting was done on May 

 10th. The soil was then left undisturbed until 

 May 28th. The ridges which were left over the 

 seed potatoes covered them to a depth of about 

 eight inches. By May 28th the weed seeds which 

 were in the surface soil had germinated and the 

 whole surface was covered with tiny weeds. A 

 spike-tooth harrow was fitted with a piece of 2 x 

 4 scantling placed diagonally across underneath 

 the frame and held in place by the harrow teeth. 

 The harrow thus rigged was used upon the potato 

 plats, being first run lengthwise of the rows and 

 then crosswise. The weight of the driver upon 

 the harrow was necessary in order to make it do 

 the leveling as required. The benefit derived 

 from this treatment was very marked. All weeds 

 were destroyed, the surface crust was broken, all 

 clods and stones were removed from above the row 

 and deposited in the centre of the space between 

 rows, the surface was leveled, and in every way 

 the conditions were made favorable for the rapid 

 growth of the potatoes, and they appeared above 

 ground in three or four days. 



"In general it may be said that 'on soils which 

 are not well drained, either naturally or artificially, 

 and on clay or clay loam soils, potatoes may be 

 planted somewhat shallow and slight hilling may 

 be practised with benefit. ' 



"If planting is done very early in the spring the 

 ridges may be permitted to remain for ten days to 

 two weeks before harrowing down. If planting is 

 done somewhat late the ridges should be harrowed 

 within one week after planting. In the case of the 

 early planting there is usually enough moisture 



