60 PREPARING TO PLANT AND PLANTING 



ber moth is troublesome, it is necessary to plant deeply. 

 The tuber moth makes its appearance more often in soil 

 that has not been worked finely than in the mellow soil. In 

 deep planting, if possible, plant from four to six inches, 

 partly cover, and leave two weeks, then finish covering with 

 a harrow running lengthwise, and with the teeth straight. 



If planting while plowing during winter months of No- 

 vember to February, it is best to leave the soil as it has fall- 

 en after plowing, for two weeks. Then harrow crosswise 

 at a depth of about two or three inches, working the 

 soil surface thoroughly. After four or five days it should 

 be harrowed again, this time lengthwise of the rows. The 

 last time it should be harrowed crosswise, this being just 

 before the plants are up. 



If the soil is fouled with weeds, or a shower of rain 

 comes before the plants are up, the soil is liable to crust; 

 and as soon as the rows can be seen it is well to harrow 

 lengthwise, being careful to keep the horses in the middle 

 of the rows. The harrowing will not injure the tops, and 

 is the first and best cultivation the plants ever get. The 

 harrowing stirs the surface of the soil and leaves it free 

 from weeds, and the soil in excellent condition. The harrow 

 is best for this cultivation, as any other implement, such as 

 the cultivator, leaves a strip of uncultivated soil between 

 the hills. 



In planting from the months of March to August, in 

 any soil, the potatoes should be planted from four to six 

 hiches deep. However, if the soil is wet, partly cover at 

 first, and in about two weeks harrow crosswise. If the soil 

 is dry and is to be irrigated, they should be covered com- 

 pletely and harrowed thoroughly to hold the moisture. 



The medium and main crop is planted in March and 

 April, and in some parts of California as late as the tenth of 



