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Southern Gardener^ s Practical Manual 



exposure to the direct or indirect sunlight, and hence is 

 unwholesome as well as unpalatable when in that con- 

 dition. The potato delights in a comparatively cool 

 atmosphere and a moist soil and therefore thrives best 

 during the cool months of spring and fall. By mulch- 

 ing heavily with leaves or straw to retain the moisture, 

 a good crop may be produced even during a dry season. 



FiG. 14. iSprayiug Potatoes. Bulletin 264, New York Experiment Station 



We secure best results by planting the tubers four to 

 six inches deep and harrowing just as the first plants 

 begin to appear. In the lower cotton belt they should 

 be planted in January; in the middle belt in February, 

 and in the mountain region, last of March or early in 

 April. Only the early varieties can be relied upon in 

 the warmer portions of the South, and these are often 

 injured by a drought in May. 



