56 TRUCK FARMING 



thereby avoiding an eyesore to himself and to any possible visitors 

 in the future, besides being of easier culture. After these furrows 

 have been laid out to an even depth throughout their entire length, 

 a heavy application of fertilizer should be applied. This should be 

 composed of blood and bone, sulphate of potash and nitrate of 

 soda, ground tobacco, castor pomace, etc. Ammoniates should 

 be of an organic form chiefly, having them analyze for this country 

 rather high in ammonia,* say about 6 per cent ; phosphate 6 per 

 cent or 7 per cent, and potash 9 per cent or 10 per cent. As 

 potatoes are a very short-lived crop I deem it generally advisable 

 to use all of the fertilizer at this first application, also for the 

 added advantage of enabling the grower to work it into the soil 

 in a more thorough manner than would be possible if later applica- 

 tions were made. After this is thoroughly mixed in with a 

 tooth or scratch harrow (it should be incorporated in the soil to a 

 depth of two or three inches) and we find that we have closed our 

 furrow by these repeated workings in the soil until we have nearly 

 filled the original depression to the level of the surface of the 

 surrounding soil, a narrow blade should then be inserted in the 

 center of the original furrow, being careful in this instance, also 

 to keep a straight uniform line, and strive to hold up the tool in 

 such a manner as not to penetrate further than about one-half of 

 the depth of the original furrow. The potatoes are then planted 

 according to variety from eight to fourteen inches apart in the 

 row. 



Another method, which, though new, gives great promise, is to 

 plow two furrows, or rather scoop two furrows, about a foot 

 apart, add the fertilizer at about the rate of one ton or over per 

 acre at the first application, thoroughly mixing it as before stated, 

 afterwards plowing out this middle which was left originally 

 between the two lines and planting the seed in this small furrow. 

 By this method, one can plant immediately after the preparation 

 of the land and avoid any danger of the fertilizer burning the 

 seed, as the potato docs not come in contact with the same. This 

 has the further advantage of leaving a furrow with a slight depres- 

 sion at each side of the plant where a later application can be 

 applied when desired. 



* See last part of Chapter VI. 



