THE POTATO 435 



tivation, scarcely ever exceeding fifty acres in 

 area, and the potato patches rarely exceed six to 

 eight acres. According to the best information 

 I have been able to get, no machinery is used in 

 the cultivation of potatoes further than a very 

 crude plow and a spade or hoe. They are planted 

 in rows at irregular distances varying from eigh- 

 teen inches to three feet apart. On the larger 

 farms the seed is generally planted by dropping 

 whole potatoes into the' furrow at distances of 

 from eighteen to twenty-four inches, and covered 

 by dragging a split log over the surface with the 

 face down, or by plowing a furrow on either side 

 of the row. 



" As a general rule they are cultivated only once, 

 and then when they are three to four inches high. 

 The weeds are cut out with a hoe or spade, when 

 they are left to take care of themselves until it is 

 thought best to dig them, which may be at any 

 time after they mature until the following spring. 



"There are many varieties of potatoes grown in 

 Chiloe, although no special attention is paid to this 

 matter. Each farmer may have his own variety, 

 since no attention is paid to changing seed, for 

 varieties do not seem to run out as at home. I 

 am told that the same variety is planted on the 

 same land year after year, by father and son, with- 

 out deterioration. No special attention is given 

 to the selection of seed, and still fine potatoes are 

 grown from year to year. 



"In general the potatoes are dug by turning the 

 row over with a plow drawn by a yoke of oxen, 

 and the ground poked around with a crooked 

 stick. Of course in this way many are left in the 

 ground, but this makes but little difference, since 

 they are very prolific, and easily raised. 



