348 THE POTATO 



find it profitable to use Northern -grown seed. Seed 

 from districts where the tops are killed by frost 

 makes the surest and strongest growth. It is 

 only in such places like Chile and the western 

 slope in Colorado that potatoes endure with- 

 out cultivation for centuries. This is a reason for 

 getting seed from these north latitude or high 

 altitude districts, but is no reason why potatoes 

 should not be grown in the South. 



Potatoes to be held for use should be stored in 

 a dark place, as cool and dry as possible. 



Following is a description of conditions in one 

 district in Florida that has been made quite famous : 



The growing of Irish potatoes in the Hastings 

 district in Florida was begun about ten years ago. 

 It has grown steadily until in 1911 the production 

 was 300,000 barrels, or 800,000 bushels. 



The conditions that obtain at Hastings are dif- 

 ferent from anywhere else in the world. 



The soil is a very light sand and the subsoil a 

 stiff, impervious clay at varying depths. This 

 sand is claimed to be very low in available fertility, 

 and annual fertilization is necessary. This fer- 

 tilizing seems to be quite as essential on land just 

 cleared of timber as on that cropped continuously 

 for ten years. 



'^commercial fertilizer costing $30 a ton and 

 containing 4 per cent, nitrate, 7 percent, acid 

 phosphate, and 7| per cent, potash is in common 

 use. It is applied at the rate of one ton per acre, 

 being sown in rows previous to planting the 

 potatoes. Some growers claim that barnyard 

 manure cannot be used for fertilizer because it 

 "poisons" the land and causes potato scab. 



Potatoes are planted on what are called "beds," 

 in ridges thrown up with implements similar to a 



