CHAPTER VIII 



CARE OF THE GROWING CROP 

 By Daniel Dean 



The tillage of the potato crop is best considered as a 

 connected whole from the time of plowing until the last 

 cultiv^ation. The results of tillage before planting and 

 after, in rendering soil fertility available, in conserving 

 moisture and in killing weeds are the same. There is no 

 danger of injury to the growing plant before planting. 

 Therefore, as large a part of the tillage of the potato as 

 practicable should be done before planting. If soil 

 moisture has been well conserved, plant-food made avail- 

 able and a large part of the weeds in the soil killed, the 

 amount of the tillage after planting can be largely reduced. 

 The danger of injury to the plants can thus be largely 

 prevented. The cost of tillage with wide tools like the 

 harrows is less than that of work between rows. Only 

 careful men can be trusted to work tools between rows 

 without danger, while much poorer labor can work in the 

 open field. When plowing is delayed until just before 

 planting, a dry period following will badly injure the crop. 



Tillage is most profitable when given at one particular 

 time. After every rain the soil is at first too wet and stiff 

 to work without injury. It should be carefully watched 

 until in the driest part of the field it becomes mellow 

 enough to work. At this stage, the soil crumbles easily 

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