37 



Planting and Cultivation. 



On the whole, medium-sized potatoes cut into foin- pieces seem 

 to he the best adapted for seed. These are planted at a fair depth 

 with either of the planters which are in common use. Not more than 

 1,000 or 1,200 pounds of a fertilizer should be applied in the drill 

 at the time of planting. The drills should be from 34 to 36 inches 

 apart, and the pieces planted from 12 to 14 or 16 inches apart in 

 the drill, according to whether it is a small or vigorous growing 

 variety. All through the growing season the field should be kept 

 free from weeds. The exaggerated ridge culture which is so common 

 in Aroostook County could be better replaced in Massachusetts by a 

 less pronounced ridge, or as level culture as is practicable. Suitable 

 potato land is naturally or artificially so well drained that it does 

 not suffer from excessive moisture, and with the high-ridge culture 

 there is danger even in a "moderately dry season of the crop suffering 

 from lack of water. The frequent running of the cultivator not merely 

 keeps down the weeds, but it lets the air into the soil and prevents 

 excessive loss of moisture from evaporation, and in every way seems 

 to be beneficial to the crop. This should be kept up until the \dnes 

 pretty well cover the ground. If weeds are appearing in the drill, 

 these should be remoA'ed by hand. 



Spraying. 



Of everything which has to do with the care of the potato in its 

 growing stage, there is nothing that is so important as the spraying, 

 both to prevent blight and to protect from injury against insects. 

 The following suggestions for fighting the enemies of the potato are 

 condensed from a circular of the Maine Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, and can be had on application to the Station at Orono, 

 Maine. 



Insect Enemies. 



The small black flea beetle eats minute holes in the leaves, some- 

 times making them look like the cover of a pepper box. Poisons 

 have little effect upon it, or upon the mature Colorado beetles. 

 Bordeaux mixture is very distasteful to both of these insects, and if 

 thoroughly applied is a most effective agent in holding them in check. 



The larva? or slugs of the Colorado beetle (potato bug) can readily 

 be killed by poisons. These poisons are best applied with water in 

 the form of a fine spray just before the eggs hatch. The smaller the 

 slug the easier it is killed. 



If applied as a fine spray before the plants are badly iiffested, h 

 pound of Paris Green, 2 pouiids of Swift's arsenate of lead or 2 pounds 

 of Bowker's Disparene per acre at each application will prove effective. 

 Arsenate of soda (see Formula 11, p. 41) is a cheaper poison, but it 

 must always be applied with Bordeaux mixture, never alone. In 

 case the slugs are abundant, a second application may be necessary 

 inside of two or three days. If the poisons are applied just before 

 the eggs hatch, tliree applications at intervals of seven to ten days 

 will usually be sufficient during the season. The poisons can be 

 applied alone (Formula 3 or 4) or with Bordeaux mixture (Formulas 

 7,8 and 11). 



Caution: Paris green poisons should never be used alone on potatoes 

 except on the addition of from 3 to 5 pounds of unslaked lime to 50 gallons 

 of spray, dejjending upon the amount of poison used. 



