198 Our Farming. 



night and poured two gallons of hot water into each one. Then 

 I stirred it well and let stand until morning. The barrels were 

 first soaked so they would not leak out any of the poison and then 

 we put thirteen gallons of water in each one and next poured the 

 two gallons of poison into each one. We let this stand some four 

 hours, stirring every few minutes so as to thoroughly mix it. Next, 

 we washed the potatoes for seed thoroughly in two waters, and 

 then filled the three barrels and let them stand in the solution one 

 hour and thirty minutes. Then we tied a rope around a barrel 

 and cover (a simple board) and put in a stick and twisted it up 

 tightly and then tipped barrel over and poured the poisoned water 

 out into a tub. Then we were ready to take the potatoes out, put 

 in more and pour water back on them for another ninety minutes, 

 and then take the next barrel, and so on. We used the same 

 water three times, and then poisorfedsome more. Perhaps it would 

 do as well used longer ; we did not know. In all we treated some 

 fifty bushels of seed. But when we took the seed out of the barrel 

 our troubles had but just begun. What should we put them in ? 

 We could not use our boxes or barrels ; there might be germs in 

 them. We finally piled them on the grass and covered with 

 blankets we knew were not scabby, and between wash tubs, milk 

 cans, and some new bags, we managed to get the seed to the field, I 

 hope, without a germ alive and growing on it. But that wasn't 

 all. The planter might be, very likely was, foul with germs. 

 Well, we cleaned it and poured boiling water all over it, and for 

 fear the pesky mites might be hot-water proof, we dropped some 

 seed by hand, having first soaked the pails used in the solution. 

 All this represented two days of hard work for three men, and 

 some risk from handling such quantities of strong poison. The 

 strength of the solution was the same as is used in surgery, one 

 part in one thousand, and will not hurt you if kept out of the 

 mouth. A cut finger would be helped rather than injured. But 

 one should be very careful of the dry poison, and of course that 

 none of the poisoned potatoes are eaten. 



The rest of the seed we planted was bought from a section 

 where I am almost certain they were free from scab , and by plant- 

 ing right from the barrels with care I hope no germs got on them. 

 As we planted on land that has never produced a scabby crop, we 

 hope we may be all right and get well paid for so much trouble. 

 From beginning to end I stood right over the potatoes, almost 

 with a club, and I know there were no weak links in our chain of 

 treatment, according to our present lighten the subject. I wish 

 I could now give you the result of this treatment ; whether this 

 seed does any better than that merely washed in water, as we 

 tried, or than untreated seed, but they are not ready to dig yet. I 

 may be able to get the result in later, before this chapter goes to 

 print; if not, you will see it in The Practical Farmer in due 

 time. 



