THE POTATO 343 



**i ; 



is a sort of horse-killing job even for four strong 

 horses. 



"Potatoes are planted 4 inches deep, 11 inches 

 apart in the row, and rows 36 inches apart, 15,840 

 hills per acre. One pound per hill would yield 264 

 bushels per acre; two pounds per hill, 528 bushels; 

 twenty bushels of large potatoes are used per acre, 

 cutting to about two eyes per seed piece. Plant- 

 ing is usually completed about May 12th. 



"For the cultivation of the crop a riding, pivot- 

 wheel, double-row cultivator is used exclusively. 

 Cultivator is started same day or week the plant- 

 ing is finished, endeavoring to get three times over 

 field before potatoes are up. Potato row ridges are 

 fallowed. The row middles should be thorough 

 and deeply broken up. It is safe to cultivate deep 

 at this stage, but not after potatoes are four inches 

 high, as roots extend over halfway from row to 

 row. By deep cultivation at this time roots are 

 torn off, and the potato root system is interfered 

 with, with a corresponding lower yield. 



"Next, the walking seven-foot weeder is run 

 twice over field, first crosswise the rows and the 

 last time straight with row, which leaves plants in 

 a narrower row, and aids in closer cultivator work. 

 If storms follow and weeder went crosswise last, the 

 potato row would be wider from being pounded 

 down and elbowing up. For weeder work, dry, 

 hot weather is chosen, if there is a choice, and not 

 starting same until after nine o'clock, as potatoes 

 will stand more abuse when warmed up. 



"The cultivator is now adjusted with narrow 

 teeth, one and one fourth inch on the two central 

 ones, and set as close to the row as it is possible to 

 run it; in fact, so close, the operator says, that 

 every time he sneezes out goes a hill of potatoes. 



