POTATOES 223 



in this way the fertilizer and a portion of 

 the potato are placed in the ground at the 

 same time. 



Cultivation. Soon after planting or after 

 the first rain, the weeder or smoothing har- 

 row is run over the field and every week at 

 least thereafter until the potatoes are well 

 up. Care is exercised not to injure the young 

 sprouts of the potato by careless handling of 

 these tools. Following the use of the weeder, 

 the cultivator is used between the rows. In 

 later cultivation, the surface of the ground 

 only is stirred. This is highly important, as 

 great injury is often caused by deep cultiva- 

 tion after the potato roots fill the soil. This 

 cultivation is only to form a dust mulch to 

 conserve the moisture in the soil. 



As the potatoes do not grow on the low 

 part of the roots, but rather on underground 

 stems which grow on the main stalk just 

 under the surface of the ground, it is good 

 practice when the blossoms appear to slight- 

 ly hill up the soil around the plants. This 

 will then afford a good place in which 'the 

 tubers can develop. This would be particu- 

 larly necessary in soil which has been plowed 

 only 4 inches deep, as the depth of the soil 

 would not be sufficient in which to allow the 



