430 THE POTATO 



and other deep rooted crops grown, it will be easy 

 to have a plot in fine condition for growing po- 

 tatoes each year. 



The Burbank is the most popular variety of the 

 potato in California. For early planting it would 

 be well to try Bliss Triumph and Early Rose. 

 New early varieties should be experimented with. 

 Only by trial can the most profitable varieties be 

 determined. In a warm climate the best seed is 

 generally that imported from colder or high alti- 

 tude districts. 



Preparation for the early crop of potatoes 

 should begin the year previous to that in which 

 the crop is grown. If stable manure is to be ap- 

 plied this should be done the first or second year 

 prior to the raising of the crop. The presence of 

 too much manure before it is thoroughly decom- 

 posed or rotted makes a favorable condition for 

 the development of diseases, like scab. 



If the land to be cropped in potatoes has been in 

 alfalfa, it is a good plan to first plow it shallow, 

 with a sharp plow, to cut all the crowns, then plow 

 it ten to fourteen inches deep. Land for early 

 potatoes should be fall plowed. 



As soon as the ground is in condition in the early 

 spring, it should be disked and harrowed, to 

 make a good seed bed and to "warm it up" as 

 much as possible in preparation for the seed about 

 to be planted. 



A practice not now followed, but one that could 

 be used to advantage, would be to plant nothing 

 but whole seed, and start the sprouts in a green- 

 house or sheltered spot, so that there is a sturdy 

 sprout developed on each tuber before it is put in 

 the ground. This will advance the maturity of 

 the crop from twenty to twenty-five days. 



