3 o4 THE SCHOOL GARDEN BOOK 



Potato 

 Growing Out-doors. 



i. If you wish to get an extra early crop of potatoes, start 

 sprouts on the tubers in-doors in the way described 

 on pages 129 and 130. 



2. Cut the tubers to three or four eyes, and plant in hills 



fifteen inches apart, in rows eighteen inches or two 

 feet apart. Cover rather deeply. Or plant ten inches 

 apart in a trench four to six inches deep, covering two 

 inches at first. 



3. As soon as the plant comes up, stir the soil surface and 



keep watch for potato beetles. At first pick off all 

 these beetles and kill them by dropping them into a 

 pan containing a little kerosene and water. If planted 

 in a trench, gradually fill it until the soil is level. 



4. When the vines are six or eight inches high, spray with 



a combination of Bordeaux mixture to which has 

 been added Paris green or arsenate of lead. 



5. When the blossom buds appear, hill the plants by draw- 



ing up the soil toward them from between the rows. 

 Spray again about two weeks after the first spraying. 



6. Keep the rows free from weeds, but do not disturb the 



roots. 



7. Harvest the main crop when the plants commence to 



die down. Thrust a fork under the hill, or loosen 

 from the side with hoe, being careful neither to cut 

 nor overlook any. 



Record of Growth. 



1. Date of planting. Name of variety. 



2. Date of coming up. 



