CHAPTER XII 

 HARVESTING THE POTATO 



There are several important considerations bearing 

 upon the harvesting of the potato crop. These must be 

 kept in mind when one is phmning the time and method 

 of harvesting, if the best returns are to be reaUzed. Im- 

 proper attention to any of these points may result in a 

 very material decrease in the crop. 



In the first place, the harvesting should be done at such 

 a time and in such a manner as to give the maximum 

 yield of tubers possible for that season. This means that 

 we are to let the processes of starch formation and storage 

 go on as long as they will. Secondly, we should aim to 

 employ such methods as will give us potatoes of the best 

 cooking and keeping qualities. And thirdly, we must 

 eliminate, as far as possible, all traces of disease from the 

 crop. Each operation in the process of harvesting should 

 be carried on with careful consideration of its effect on 

 total yield, quality and disease. 



Time to harvest 



The time of harvesting is influenced by the weather 

 conditions and by the kind of potatoes grown. In general, 

 one does not need to be as particular with early potatoes 

 as with the late varieties. Early potatoes may be dug 

 as soon as they are large enough to eat. Late potatoes, 

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