182 POTATO CULTURE. 



ing this year a dead loss nitrogen all gone back to the air, 

 and potash and phosphoric acid in a heap. Spread the vines 

 thinly, and plow under and save all. 



ROTATION AND WEEDS. 



When friend Root was here right after we had planted our 

 potatoes, he saw here and there a dock in the field. He ask- 

 ed me about these, and if I had said any thing about them 

 in the book. Now, of course I get as clean clover seed as I 

 can ; but we care very little for all such pests, with our short 

 rotation. They do us little damage. If there are docks in 

 the clover, and there will be some years, we cut early enough 

 always to prevent their going to seed. If the second crop 

 was used for hay, we should do the same again. If for seed, 

 or to plow under, we must cut out the docks. The roots 

 plowed under for potatoes will sprout up once or twice, and 

 I take a hoe as soon as the potatoes come up and run over 

 the piece and cut them off as low down in as I can readily, 

 and that ends them. The heavy growth of clover will 

 smother almost any thing except docks that is, the first 

 year of its growth alone and the next year, when weeds 

 might work in, we have it turned under and in potatoes. 

 Clean culture of potatoes, and use of mower on wheat-stub- 

 ble, along with this short rotation, gives one the up} er hand 

 of weeds. 



FARMING TOO MUCH MIXED. 



!Now, friends, don't think that you can grow potatoes as I 

 do, in addition to all that yoii may already be doing. We 

 work so systematically, and have so many tools, and have 

 had so much experience, and have so little else to do, that 

 some things I have said may leave the impression that it is 

 an easy matter to make potatoes pay grandly. I can point 

 you to men this year, as always, pretty good farmers too, 

 who made miserable failures in the potato-field, on account 

 of having too much to do. The potatoes were not cared for 

 all through in the best way and on time. One man can not 

 do every thing; and once more I would urge you to do 



