PREPARING TO PLANT AND PLANTING 55 



PREPARING TO PLANT AND PLANTING. 



CHAPTER IV. 



| T is of the utmost importance in the growing of a 

 profitable crop of potatoes to cultivate deeply as 

 well as thoroughly. The soil should be well fertil- 

 ized with both the dry manure and a green crop, 

 if lacking in humus. This green crop or mulch should be 

 sown, preferably, in the fall of the year preceding the 

 planting. By so doing the green crop will have reached the 

 desired height by the time of the early spring planting. As 

 soon as this crop is ready, plow under and prepare the soil 

 thoroughly by the use of a harrow, if the soil has a tendency 

 to bake or crust. This working will make the soil fine, mel- 

 low, and moist, an ideal condition for a crop of potatoes. In 

 any soil it is well to plow the ground quite deeply, but do 

 not turn up too much subsoil at one time. It is well not to 

 plow more than two inches deeper than was plowed the year 

 preceding, thus deepening the soil gradually until the de- 

 sired depth has been attained. From seven to nine inches 

 is a good depth to plow for potatoes. 



