THE POTATO 401 



which would have to be done on the summer fallow 

 land if potatoes were not grown is included in the 

 cost. Therefore, the potatoes grown in the place 

 of summer fallow can be sold for a very low price 

 and still leave a good balance. If the market 

 remains as high as it has been for many years a net 

 profit of $15 to $20 an acre from what would other- 

 wise be idle land can easily be secured. 



"A deep, friable, mellow loam, rich in humus, 

 is the ideal soil for potatoes. Heavier soils may 

 give good results if well manured or by plowing 

 under a clover or alfalfa sod. If the soil has any 

 tendency to pack, the tubers are restricted in their 

 growth and are often misshapen. Supplying humus 

 to such soils not only remedies this difficulty by 

 making them more friable, but increases their 

 water-holding capacity, thus insuring larger yields 

 per acre. The soil should always be put in good 

 physical condition, as potatoes respond very profit- 

 ably to good soil conditions. Light soils can be 

 worked earlier in the spring than clay soils and also 

 favor early maturity of the crop. They are, there- 

 fore, better for early potatoes. Potatoes should 

 not be grown repeatedly on the same soil, as most 

 of the potato diseases live over in the soil. 



"Potato land should be plowed in the fall and 

 allowed to lie rough during the winter. This fa- 

 vors the catching of winter moisture and allows the 

 subsurface soil to settle, and the surface can be 

 worked earlier in the spring. If fall plowing is 

 impossible, the land should be disked in the fall so 

 that the surface may be rough and open through 

 the winter. Deep plowing usually gives better 

 results than shallow. The plowed land should be 

 well harrowed early in the spring and if not imme- 

 diately planted it should be frequently harrowed in 



