342 FIELD AND GARDEN PRODUCTS 



they are in need of water, as by darkening of the foliage. Or one 

 may dig down in the hill and press a handful of soil in the hand ; if 

 it fails to retain its form, irrigation is needed. Care should be taken 

 ' not to wait until the ground is too dry, because one can not cover 

 the whole field of potatoes in one day's irrigation, and some are 

 likely to suffer for water before being reached. Experience shows 

 that if potatoes are grow r n as rapidly as possible, so as to become 

 strong and well established early in the season, they withstand the 

 maximum of unfavorable weather conditions later on, when the hot 

 dry winds becomes a menace to the crop. 



When the time for irrigation arrives, a V-shaped trench half- 

 way between the rows should be opened in alternate middles with an 

 8 or 10 inch lister plow ; that is, a narrow plow with a double mold- 

 board which throws the dirt each way. In these furrows the irriga- 

 tion water is run so that the soil will not become solidified by 

 flooding, and the necessary amount of water may be properly dis- 

 tributed. For the second irrigation furrows are opened in the 

 middles that were not opened at the first irrigation, and this alterna- 

 tion is continued for succeeding irrigations. At the head of each 

 field is a feeder ditch from which the water is admitted to these 

 irrigation furrows between the rows. It is essential that the right 

 quantity of water be used, and that it be uniformly distributed. 

 Cultivation should commence as soon after irrigation as the soil will 

 permit so as to insure rapid and uniform growth without check. 

 This will not only result in the production of smooth, uniform tubers 

 of attractive appearance, which are always in demand at high prices, 

 but will also result in large, profitable yields and at the same time 

 keep the soil in good mechanical condition for future crops. Do not 

 irrigate after August 10, so as to give fifty or sixty days for ripening 

 in dry earth. 



There is no line of farming in the irrigated districts that gives 

 such marvelous profits as that of scientific potato production. With 

 scientific knowledge which can certainly be acquired by experiments 

 in supplying perfectly balanced plant food and maintaining soil fer- 

 tility, the scientific principles of which are similar to those used by 

 every successful breeder in feeding and fitting prize-winning stock; 

 and with the proper proportions of plant foods phosphates, nitro- 

 gen, and potash in the soil as found in many parts of the West; 

 and by the use of clover and alfalfa, there is no reason for those who 

 contemplate engaging in the potato industry to fear the outcome. 

 Too much stress can not be put upon the value and importance of 

 live stock in keeping up favorable soil conditions, as no country now 

 known has been continuously successful in crop production without 

 the use of manures from the feeding of forage and grain crops. 



Varieties. Years of experience have demonstrated that com- 

 paratively few varieties of potatoes are really adapted to western or 

 mountain conditions. Among the early varieties none has been so 

 universally successful as the Early Ohio. This potato is of fine 

 quality and uniform in size and shape, though not a heavy yielder. 

 Another good potato, though not so early, is the Rose Seedling. For 



