Soil and Previous Preparation. 



For the best development of the potato a naturally drained 

 sandy loam is always preferable to wet heavy soils. 



The preparation of the soil by fillhig it with the desired 

 amount of humus should have been the purpose of the farmer 

 for several years previous to the season when potatoes are to 

 be grown upon it. This is most important, for the humus not 

 only assists in holding fertilizer, manure and moisture for the 

 use of the growing crop, but by its decomposition it Improves 

 the tilth and supplies considerable quantities of plant food. 

 The practice of growing a previous green crop to turn into the 

 soil for its humus, or of growing a crop like grass which leaves 

 behind a mass of roots and stubble, increases greatly not only 

 the number of beneficial soil bacteria but, eventually also, the 

 size of the potato crop. For the reasons just mentioned a well- 

 planned rotation of farm crops is of the greatest benefit. The 

 following are good rotations for a potato grower: three and 

 four year rotations: (1) grain followed by rowen; (2) clover; 

 (3) potatoes; or corn may come into the course before the 

 potatoes, making a four-year rotation. A five-year rotation: 

 (1) grain and rowen; (2) clover and grass; (3) grass; (4) corn; 

 (5) potatoes. 



The ground for potatoes should be well plowed, usually to the 

 full depth of the top soil, even if it is from 8 to 10 inches deep. 

 If green sward is to be turned for potatoes marked benefit will 

 result from first cutting the turf thoroughly with a double disk 

 wheel harrow. When the field is plowed a jointer colter should 

 be used on the plow beam to insure the thorough burying of 

 the sod. The final fitting of the ground by repeated harrowings 

 is very important, and should be continued until the surface 

 soil to a depth of at least 4 Inches Is fine and loose. The field 

 is now ready, provided the planting is to be done with a 

 machine which drops the seed and applies the fertilizer at the 

 same time. If the planting is to be done by hand the field 

 should be first marked so that the rows will be straight and 

 evenly spaced, for this is essential to thorough cultivation and 

 spraying later. The rows should then be furrowed 4 to 6 



