POTATO CULTURE. 99 



start too soon, and be ready to rush things just the moment 

 the conditions are right. If it rains again in 24 hours, no 

 matter ; we cultivate again as soon as it is dry enough. If 

 it is dry weather, and does not rain at all, we cultivate again 

 within a week any way, as the earth settles together and 

 needs it by that time. No attention whatever is paid to the 

 number of times that we cultivate ; we just do all we can 

 for the crop. 



At an institute in Wisconsin I heard one of the most suc- 

 cessful dairymen in the State report that he never said to his 

 cows, " How little can you get along with in the way of 

 food V " but, " How much can you possibly make use of ? " 

 Thus do we try to take care of our potato crop. With our 

 long rows, and tools, tillage is cheap, and it pays, if properly 

 done and always on time. We do not try to get along with 

 one cultivator, but have three at least one for each man on 

 the place. I seldom need to do any cultivating myself, but I 

 must have a tool ready so I can when we get in a tight place. 

 Suppose it rains Friday night, and the soil is not dry enough 

 to work until 10 o'clock Saturday. My son and mm could 

 not get over our field by night. Three of us could, and then 

 I could go to church Sunday and feel entirely easy, as though 

 I had done my part as though I had not been u slothful in 

 business," but " serving the Lord." We do not stop cultiva- 

 tion as long as a horse can get through between the rows ; 

 and a horse that is used to it will go through without doing 

 much damage when the tops fairly cover the ground. The 

 old rule, to stop cultivating at blossoming-time, was all right 

 for the tools and culture of that time. With our shallow 

 culture, and narrowing of cultivator toward the last, we can 

 do no harm under any circumstances, and may do some good. 

 As long as any soil is exposed to the sun, it is better to keep 

 the surface lightly stirred. When the vines cover all, then 

 shade will take the place of cultivation. 



I haven-t said any thing about hoeing by hand. We do not 

 do any, except in some extremely wet seasons, or at the ends 



