HOME PROJECTS 353 



break up the ground to a depth of four to six inches, but all 

 later cultivation should not penetrate the ground more than 

 three inches. Flat cultivation providing a shallow surface 

 mulch constantly is the general practice. Good cultivation 

 will maintain a soil mulch throughout the season, thus pre- 

 serving the moisture and preventing the growth of weeds. 



As an experiment and for contrast, cultivate one row by 

 ridging up the soil about the potato plants as they grow. 



Combating insects and diseases. The Color-ado potato 

 beetle is pretty sure to find your potato plot and to begin his 

 destructive work of defoliating the vines. Prepare a solu- 

 tion of lead arsenate, about one teaspoonful to a gallon of 

 water, or at the rate of two pounds to fifty gallons of water, 

 and spray over the potato plants as soon as the beetles ap- 

 pear. For a small area an atomizer or a sprinkling can 

 may be used. 



For the potato-leaf blight, spray with Bordeaux mixture. 



Formula: 1 pound copper sulphate, 1 pound caustic lime. 



Dissolve copper sulphate in hot water. SlaoK lime iri sepa- 

 rate vessel. Wheii both are cool, mix and add water to make 

 nine gallons' of mixture. Add one-half ounce Paris green or 

 one-half pound lead arsenate, and both bugs and blight are 

 successfully combated. 



Harvesting. Students will find it most practical to " lift ' ' 

 their crop by hand with a potato hook or fork. Dig each 

 hill carefully, and keep the tubers in the experimental rows 

 separate from those in the other rows so that comparisons 

 may be made. Note the hills giving the highest yields, and 

 save these for exhibition or for seed. Sack up the potatoes 



