POTATO CULTURE. 105 



them, and stir the surface so as to prevent weeds starting, 

 leaving very little to be done with the hoe. We fix it much 

 the same for potatoes when they are small. 



The picture (p. 94) shows the Thomas harrow as we use it 

 for harrowing the freshly turned sod, except that we generally 

 use three horses. When harrowing potatoes, one should 

 never ride. The harrow is heavy enough. There are other 

 smoothing or slanting-toothed harrows (slanting backward) 

 made. I have always used the Thomas harrow, and prefer 

 the old style, teeth not reversible. The patent has expired 

 on this harrow, but you will not be likely to make as good a 

 one as you can buy. If I could have but one harrow, it 

 would be this, and next the Cutaway, for digging up hard 

 ground, as pictured in another chapter. 



Now, friends, probably 200 farmers have written me ask- 

 ing me to give all dimensions of frame, teeth, etc., and the 

 slant, and all particulars, so they could make a smoothing- 

 harrow. I simply can not answer such questions. The 

 spirit is willing, but the body gets tired beyond endurance 

 before piles of letters of that kind. With the consent of 

 your most sincere friend the publisher, Mr. A. I. Boot, you 

 have been given pictures, and address of manufacturers of 

 the tools I would buy the best I know of ; and this is done 

 without one particle of pay from them. It is done to help 

 the introduction of good tools in this line of potato culture, 

 and it is done for you. Don't ask us to do any more. While 

 I am about it I may as well say that neither for love nor 

 money could any implement get itself advertised in this book. 

 We are using every tool named, and tell you just what we 

 know they are. 



Breed's weeder will be of little use to you on hard, heavy, 

 stony, or rough land. Don't buy it for such conditions. On 

 a light, clean, mellow soil it will do at a rapid rate just about 

 the same work you do with a steel garden-rake in the garden- 

 beds. A first-class farmer will be delighted with what he 

 can do with it, under such circumstances. It will not root 



