234 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



because the more compadl the mat of tops of the vines 

 the better the ground will be prote<5led from the diredt 

 rays of the sun — so that, after irrigation, the moisture 

 may be retained in the ground, as the potato delights 

 in a cool, moist soil. Cover by throwing up from each 

 side a good slice with a two-horse stirring plow. This 

 will cover the potatoes to a good depth and leave them 

 in ridges for irrigation. We always make it a point 

 to give the prepared ground a good flooding before 

 planting unless the heavens have wept copiously to 

 moisten the ground. We plant in Colorado from 

 May 2oth to June loth. For seed we prefer the 

 half-cut tuber, although this is a matter of one's own 

 judgment. 



When the sprouts appear above ground we go over 

 the patch with a slant- tooth drag to loosen the soil. 

 There is no danger of injuring the plant in this way. 

 We are not able to say just when potatoes should be 

 irrigated. In that, as in size of seed, no rule will hold 

 good. Some varieties require more water than do 

 others, and some soils require more than others. 

 .Water applied too soon will often turn the vines yellow 

 and permanently check their growth. On the other 

 hand, if the ground is very dry at the period when 

 potatoes are setting, as we term the formation of the 

 young tubers, it often happens that no after application 

 of the water will remedy the matter, and a short crop 

 is the result. As a general rule, it is much better for 

 the crop that the vines should attain a good degree of 

 growth and be well in blossom before water is applied, 

 but there is no fixed rule as to this. When the ground 

 gets very dry and hot, and the vines turn dark-colored 



