Cost of Groiving Potatoes 305 



land was plowed twice in the spring with frequent culti- 

 vation, which very nearly destroys every trace of quack- 

 grass. The low cost of hand labor on the field warrants 

 the statement that weed growth was practically de- 

 stroyed by cultivation before the potatoes were planted, 

 and by the weeder after they were planted. It is impor- 

 tant that we impress upon the users of weeders and smooth- 

 ing harrows the absolute necessity of beginning opera- 

 tion at once after the potatoes or seeds have been planted. 

 If the weeds become rooted, even though they may not 

 show very much above ground, the light-fingered tools, 

 which are only safe to use on the growing plants, will 

 have very little eft'ect upon them. Farmers are often 

 disappointed in the effect of weeders, simply because the 

 weeder has given the weed the same encouragement which 

 it gives to the plant under cultivation. 



"The seed potatoes which were kept in an outdoor pit 

 during the winter were taken from the pit April 18th, 

 spread thinly on the barn floor and stirred occasionally to 

 prevent long sprouts from growing. They were planted 

 at varying dates from May 28th to June 10th. None 

 of the sprouts were broken in handling or planting. The 

 pieces were cut as nearly cubical as possible, and weighed 

 about 2 oz. each. The number of eyes varied from 1 to 

 5, the seed ends often containing 5 to 6 eyes. No eft'ort 

 was made to reduce the size of the seed piece from the 

 seed end of the potato, in fact it is a fatal error to do so. 

 Only one or two stalks will develop. The pieces were 

 dropped 14^ inches by 36 inches." 



"The cost by items does not show marked difference 

 for the two years, with the exception of digging and 

 delivering. A part of this saving was due to a lighter 

 yield and a part to more economical methods of handling." 



