Potatoes at the West. II 



result was eighty bushels of fine potatoes, after the potato-beetles had 

 stripped off nearly all the leaves, seriously checking the growth ; and from 

 which it would not have recovered but for the stimulating effects of the 

 mulching, keeping the soil moist. A field-crop planted at the same time 

 yielded thirty bushels. No weeds were allowed on either patch. 



But as straw, leaves, and manure are not always at hand, we should pur- 

 sue that system of culture that will give us the best results. 



The plan that I have pursued for several years with early potatoes, and 

 the one, that, thus far, has been the most satisfactory, is as follows : Land 

 that has had one crop after breaking the sward, what we call second sod, or 

 the second crop, is ploughed deep, say seven to eight inches, rolled, marked 

 off with a one-horse plough, three feet wide, the sets, of one eye each, 

 dropped ten inches apart, and covered with a sulky two-horse cultivator. This 

 will cover them two to three inches deep. In this condition, the land is 

 left until the plants begin to appear above ground, when no time is to be 

 lost in putting on the two-horse harrow, and giving the whole surface a 

 thorough harrowing. This will kill all the young weeds, without disturbing 

 the potato-sets. The roller is again passed over the field. The surface is 

 now finely comminuted, the air and heat is absorbed, and, in a very few 

 days, the plants are up, so that they may be worked with the two-horse sulky 

 cultivator, having the two inside shares adjusted to throw the earth towards 

 the plants ; at the same time, the shield must be used to keep off sods, and 

 lumps of earth, and small stones, if there should be any. A shield made 

 of rods is the best ; for that will allow the fine earth to pass through, and 

 exclude the larger particles. The crop is worked weekly in this way ; grad- 

 ually hilling up until in bloom, when the hills must not be disturbed. To 

 keep the weeds down between the rows, a double-shovel plough, drawn by a 

 single horse, is used, and the weeds are to be cut out of the hills with a sharp 

 hoe, or pulled by hand. Usually, the heavy growth of tops will keep the 

 hills clear of weeds, if justice is done between the rows. ' Deep, clean cul- 

 ture between the rows, after blooming, is useful, for it supplies moisture b) 

 capillary attraction in dry weather, and acts as a drain in case of heavy 

 rains. 



The June planting is managed in a similar manner ; but the mulching will 

 be found useful in a majority of cases, and especially if the season is dry. 



