THE POTATO 123 



crop of corn before potatoes are planted on the field. Com- 

 mercial fertilizers can be used to advantage for potatoes on 

 most soils. 



The seed bed. Potatoes should have an especially 

 well prepared seed bed. The plowing should be deeper than 

 for most crops, since the seed is planted deeper and loose 

 soil must be had for the roots and tubers. In average soils 

 the plow should be set to a depth of not less than eight 

 inches. 



The seed bed must be well pulverized and thoroughly 

 packed. Usually not less than four harrowings and disk- 

 ings are required for the best results. Experiments have 

 shown that the difference in yield caused by harrowing part 

 of a field four times and the remainder of it but twice may 

 be as much as twenty per cent, of the crop in favor of the 

 better preparation. 



The planting. Potatoes should be planted not less 

 than four inches deep. If less than this depth it will not 

 give room for the tubers to grow without protruding from 

 the ground. This is sure to result in injury from sunburn. 

 Most potato growers drill the seed, dropping single pieces 

 of seed from twelve to fifteen inches apart in the row. In 

 some regions potatoes are planted in cross rows like corn, 

 with three cuts of seed to the hill. 



The date for planting differs in various regions, but 

 the greater part of the crop in the northern states is planted 

 during the last half of May. From twelve to twenty bushels 

 of seed are required for an acre, depending on how the 

 tubers are cut for planting. Where crops of any consider- 

 able size are raised, the dropping is usually done with a 

 machine or planter, some makes of which are arranged to 

 distribute commercial fertilizer at the same time. 



Cultivating the crop. Potatoes demand good cultiva- 

 tion. Harrowing should be done before the potatoes are 



