420 THE POTATO 



plowed, the seed being dropped by hand in every 

 third row. 



The crop is irrigated four to five times and cul- 

 tivated twice. 



The digging is all done by hand. 



The men are paid $50 per month and board, and 

 they work eleven hours a day. 



The rotation of crops practised is potatoes, 

 then barley or onions. Potatoes are never planted 

 twice in succession on the same ground. 



The Platt Commission Company of Stockton 

 handles a large tonnage of potatoes. Their chief 

 buyer is a Chinese "boy " who has been with them 

 since 1878. He is considered the most competent 

 buyer in California and draws a salary commen- 

 surate with his services. 



Potatoes are often shipped from Stockton 

 before they are fully ripe. They are then loaded 

 in double decks in the cars, but the sacks are set -on 

 end instead of being corded up lying flat. By 

 loading on end the air circulates all around the 

 sack. The crop marketed from June to Septem- 

 ber is handled in this way. It costs $10 to fit 

 up a car for this kind of shipping. 



Potatoes known as "leaky," because when 

 bruised by rough handling, water runs out of them 

 and wets the sacks, are produced in the delta or 

 tule lands. These contain an excess of moisture 

 because they make a rapid, soft growth. These 

 potatoes often turn blue. 



The excessive growth of tops that these po- 

 tatoes make in the field indicates a soil rich in 

 nitrogen, but deficient perhaps in potash and 

 phosphoric acid. The addition of the two elements 

 last named might increase yields and earliness 

 very much and make a firmer, better table potato. 



