90 POTATO CULTUKE. 



we got of Mr. Root. They are cheap and good, with the han- 

 dle extending on to the back a little to protect the fingers. 

 Grind them down, before beginning to cut, as thin as you 

 dare. They will then go through the potato much easier. 

 The back should not be much thicker than the edge. We 



KNIFE FOB CUTTING POTATOES. 



Price lOc; by mail, 13c. Sold by A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio, 

 always wind a rag around the forefinger to protect it. With 

 such a knife, one who is used to it should cut from eight to 

 ten bushels to one eye in a day of ten hours, and do it nicely. 

 Of course, it will go slowly at first. A woman will usually 

 cut faster and better than a man. They are more used to 

 such work, and have more patience^ I have seen a young 

 lady cut a bushel an hour right along, whe're the seed was of 

 good size. 



If you want to cut small potatoes, Mr. L. D. Olds, of Wis- 

 consin, who is pretty good authority, cuts off and throws 

 away the seed end, as I do. and splits the tuber lengthwise 

 into two or three pieces, according to size. I have cut them 

 to one eye, but would not advise it for field culture. The 

 pieces are too small. 



The truth is, I do not want to advise at all about this 

 matter of cutting. I have given you facts and my practice. 

 It is so easy not to grasp the whole matter, for one not ac- 

 customed to it, that he had better be slow and careful about 

 making radical changes, until he knows he is right, as I did, 

 and hasn't got the wrong practice for the man and condi- 

 tions. Do not understand me, friends, as hinting that you 

 may not be as smart as I am. You may be much smarter, 

 and still not have the experience in this line. I do riot want 

 to lead you one inch astray, but, rather, to stir you up and 

 set you to thinking and studying and experimenting to find 

 out the very best. 



