Cultural Directions. — 283 



shovel-plow is out of date ; but the soil must be kept well stirred 

 and mellow until the plants cover the ground. When the tops 

 begin to die, or even sooner, the crop is ready for digging, and 

 if the price is acceptable, should be marketed at once, since prices 

 are usually declining very rapidly just at that time. 



Field Culture. — The market gardener, on account of his 

 larger yields and the better prices he receives, can well afford 

 to take more pains with his crop ; and so can the home grower, 

 who will hardly miss the 

 few hours he spends on his 

 patch plying the hoe. In 

 growing potatoes for main 

 (late) crop, however, with 

 the prospect of continued 

 low prices for an average 

 crop before us, we are forced 

 to adopt a more economical 

 system, especially in the 

 employment of labor. The 

 work must be done almost 

 exclusively with horse and 

 machine, and without call- Early Sunrise. 



ing on hand hoes and spading forks or potato hooks for assistance. 

 Thus it is yet possible, even at the present low average prices, to 

 make the crop one of the most profitable for the farm in favor- 

 able locations. 



A young, rich clover field, as already stated, is undoubtedly 

 a superior selection for a site. In regard to the application of 



manures, I confess we are as yet 

 quite ignorant. A number of 

 ways are open to us, namely : 

 (i) to apply the compost or 

 fertilizers broadcast and plow it 

 in ; or, (2) to broadcast them 

 after plowing and simply harrow 

 them in ; or, (3) to put the fertil- 

 izing material into the bottom of 

 the furrows under the seed ; or, 

 (4) to scatter it over the lightly 

 covered seed. Myself and other 

 people have made various tests to find out which of these 

 methods will give us the best results ; but the outcome thus far 

 has been of a rather negative character, and I believe the conclu- 

 sion is justified that the mode of application is of far less influence 

 upon the yield than the quantity of fertilizer. The indications, 

 also, are that fertilizer applied above the seed usually gives 

 slightly better returns than when applied in the bottom of the 



Chas. Downing. 



