Cultural Directions. — 281 



manure ") in preference to even the best of stable manure. It is 

 pure nonsense and poor economy, however, to waste large 

 quantities of such fertilizer on utterly run-down land, in the 

 expectation of growing very large crops right away. I have often 

 found out that this will not work. Accumulated fertility in the 

 soil appears to be indispensable for a full measure of success. At 

 the same time, it will be proper to state that these high-grade 

 fertilizers, applied at the rate of from Soo to 1600 lbs. per acre, 

 have sometimes given me an increase in the yield sufficient to 

 pay two or three times the cost of manure, besides leaving the 

 ground in better condition than before. 



Rotation. — To diminish the danger of attacks by potato 

 beetles, flea beetles, and other insect foes, as well as by the 

 diseases peculiar to the crop, its frequent change to a location 

 as far as possible remote from any place where potatoes had 

 been grown the year before, is to be heartily recommended 

 as a safe and most practical means. This may not usually 

 prevent the attacks entirely; but it will tend to render them 

 far less serious and intense. Although perhaps not generally 

 recognized, it is nevertheless a fact that few potato crops are 

 now grown the foliage of which escapes considerable injury 

 by beetles, blights, and poisonous applications, resulting in 

 great reduction of the yield. Strictest adherence to the " wide 

 rotation " principle, therefore, is a practice dictated by ordinary 

 prudence. 



Average Yields. — The average yield of the crop in the 

 various states is ridiculously low. Some of the reasons for this 

 fact have already been alluded to. Another is the yet common 

 practice of planting in check rows, which, besides, are often 

 needlessly wide apart. A change to drill planting, with not more 

 than 3 feet space between the rows, and 1 2 to 18 inches between 

 the seed pieces, frequently doubles the yield. 



The size of seed pieces also has its decided influence upon 

 the yield. Large seed pieces under average circumstances give 

 the largest crops. Most growers use pieces too small for their 

 own good. Let us make an examination of the potato fields a 

 few weeks after planting time, in spring, and we see the great 

 majority of the plantings come up slowly and weakly, with a 

 single stalk growing from each hill, and many gaps in the rows. 

 We may be sure the yield will be accordingly. Larger pieces, 

 even whole tubers, have always given me the heaviest yields, and 

 this to such an extent, that this extremely heavy seeding (some- 

 times over 30 bushels per acre) has turned out to be very profit- 

 able on good soil, and under average fair conditions. 



The condition of seed is another factor in determining the 

 yield. A full crop can only be grown from fresh, plump, seed- 

 tubers that have not been weakened by the emission of spindling 



