94 One Thousand Questions in Agriculture 



New Potatoes for Seed. 



Can I plant American Wonder potatoes for the first crop, and let 

 enough of them mature to use for seed for the second crop, to be 

 planted the first or middle of July? 



It is possible to use potatoes grown the same year as seed for 

 the later crop, providing you let the potatoes mature first by the 

 complete dying down of the vines, and second by digging the pota- 

 toes allow them to lie in the open air, with some protection against 

 sun-burning, until the potatoes become somewhat greenish. If this 

 is the case the eyes will develop and seed will grow, while without 

 such treatment you might be disappointed in their behavior. Of 

 course, the question still remains whether it would be desirable to 

 do this or to plant some later variety earlier in the season when the 

 growing conditions would be better. 



Potato Growing. 



In what locality are the best early potatoes grown in California? 

 Can they be raised on zvheat lands zvithout irrigation as an early crop? 



Early potatoes are grown in regions of light frosts in all parts 

 of the State — around the bay of San Francisco, on the mesas in 

 southern California, and to some extent at slight elevations in the 

 central part of the State. The potato endures some frost, but one 

 has, for an early crop, to guard against the locations subject to hard 

 freezing. Most of our potatoes are grown without irrigation because, 

 on uplands, winter temperatures favor their growing during the rainy 

 season. The middle-season and late potatoes are grown on moist 

 lowlands where irrigation is not necessary. In proper situations, 

 much of the land which is used for potatoes has at some time pro- 

 duced wheat or barley, corn or sorghum, and other field crops. 



Potatoes After Alfalfa. 



I have been a successful potato grower in Ohio. I have the best 

 alfalfa soil and it is nozu in its fourth year of productiveness in that 

 crop. I would like to grow potatoes in a small ivay. 



Proceed just as you would at the East in getting potatoes upon 

 a red clover sod. Turn under the alfalfa deeply now if the soil will 

 work well, and roll your sandy soil. You must use a sharp plow 

 to cut and cover well. If there is moisture enough the alfalfa, plowed 

 under in the fall, ought to be decayed by February, when you could 

 plant potatoes safely, probably, unless your situation is_ very frosty. 

 If you plant early you ought to get the crop through without irriga- 

 tion if you cultivate well and keep the land flat. 



Flat or Hill Culture for Potatoes. 



Is it better to hill potatoes or not? 

 , During the dry time of the year potatoes should be grown with 



s/ flat cultivation, except as it may be necessary to furrow out between 



