56 POTATO CULTURE. 



yield from the hand-planted was decidedly greater, in two 

 trials, on a moderately heavy loam. I did not understand 

 it, and said nothing about it for years, but kept on experi- 

 menting and studying. I can not give the reason, to a cer- 

 tainty, but here are my ideas : 



The plow (?) of the planter is a sharp wedge. There are 

 some 800 pounds weight on it, to hold it down to press its 

 way through the soil (not plow and loosen as it goes). . In 

 moderately heavy soil, a little moist, it is easy to see how 

 this packing, and tremendous packing too, would be injuri- 

 ous to a crop like potatoes, and why my plows would do the 

 work better. Potatoes must have loose light soil to do their 

 best. In a wet year, like the last, potatoes came up quicker 

 and stronger, when put in with my machines enough so to be 

 easily noticed by any one. This for my soil, which is, little 

 of it, light enough to be called sandy. A very light soil 

 would not be injured by packing, or helped, perhaps, by re- 

 plowing. Late years, whenever I wanted to do my best, my 

 old tools were used. Since knowing the difference, however, 

 I have planted mostly with the planter. It is so easy ! It 

 is hard to go back. I have sometimes felt as though I had 

 rather take 25 or 40 bushels less per acre than get help to 

 drop again; but, of course, that is not business. Again, in 

 a real dry spring, with my land quite dry, it does not make 

 so much difference. If nothing happens to prevent, we in- 

 tend to plant our entire crop by hand this year. 



For years I kept this matter to myself. I feared I was 

 mistaken. This winter I have met some other growers who 

 were of the same mind. The Aspinwall people will, of 

 course, change their wedge marker to a plow, when it is 

 made certain that it would be better. There is no patent 

 on my marker and coverer. They are not made for sale. I 

 got one up for my own use, to do exactly what experience 

 said was best. 



You will notice all through, that we try to avoid unneces- 

 sary packing of potato land when plowing, when harrowing, 



