THE POTATO 433 



the fine mechanical condition produced, much fer- 

 tility has been made available. 



On heavy soil, small "patches" of potatoes are 

 sometimes grown under straw, or some similar 

 material used as a mulch. By this method the 

 seed bed is prepared (mellow and moist), the seed 

 planted very close to, or just at the top of, the 

 ground, then the whole area is covered with straw 

 to a depth of six to ten inches. This settles down, 

 the plants come through it, and the tubers develop 

 beneath. 



When planted this way the crop is not touched 

 from the time the straw is placed until the tubers 

 are dug. 



