Vegetable Growing 89 



wish to keep for seed, because the roasting: destroys the germinating 

 power also, but sulpliuring, which would reduce the flavor, would 

 give the product a bad name. Possibly some growers do bleaching, 

 but, if so, they have to be pretty careful about it. The cost of the 

 operation would also be a bar to profit, for peanuts are grown on a 

 narrow margin owing to competition witli importations grown with 

 cheap labor. 



Adobe and Peanuts. 

 Is adobe laud good for the pcamd? Is it harder to start than in 

 other soils or not? 



It is not good at all. Peanuts require the finest, mellowest loam 

 with sand enough to prevent crust, and moisture even and con- 

 tinuous. The surface must be kept loose so that the plant can bury 

 its own bloom stem and the under soil light and clean so that it will 

 readily shake from the nuts and not stain them. Adobe is the worst 

 soil you could find for peanuts. 



Cutting Potatoes. 



What would be the most profitable potato to plant i)i the Salinas val- 

 ley, and how small can a potato be cut up for planting? Hoiv many eyes 

 should each piece contain in order to make a good grozvth and be profit- 

 able f 



Probably the best potato for your district would be the Burbank, 

 which is largely grown near Salinas and brings the highest price. 

 It is customary to cut a medium-sized potato in two pieces and a 

 large one in four pieces. One can be very economical of seed by 

 smaller cutting, but it would require the most favorable conditions 

 to bring a vigorous growth. Probably pieces weighing not less than 

 two ounces would be best under ordinary conditions. Potatoes which 

 are rather small may be used for seed if well matured and have good 

 eyes. It is dangerous, however, to use the small stuff — too small 

 for sale. Unless the soil and moisture conditions are extra favor- 

 able, the growth will be weak and unsatisfactory. 



Potato Planting. 



Hozv many sacks of potatoes are to be planted to an acre, and hozv 

 many eyes are to be left in a seed? If, for instance, we plant seed zvith 

 three eyes, how many potatoes should we get from that vine? 



Potatoes are planted all the way from five to fifteen sacks to 

 the acre, probably about ten sacks being the average. There is no 

 particular number of eyes specified in preparing the seed, according 

 to common practice. Good medium-sized potatoes are generally cut 

 in two pieces crosswise, and large potatoes in four pieces, cutting 

 both ways. There is no definite relation between the number of 

 eyes planted and the number of potatoes coming from them. This 

 has been the subject of innumerable experiments, and the conclusion 

 is that the crop is more dependent upon good soil and favorable 

 growing conditions than upon any way of preparing the seed. 



