192 POTATOES 



digger lifts the tubers, separates them from the adhering soil, 

 and deposits them on the surface of the ground ready for the 

 pickers (Fig. 118). The tubers must be picked up immediately 

 after digging and not allowed to remain exposed to the sun. 



QUESTIONS 



1. How do potatoes rank in importance as compared with other vegetables? 



2. In what two stages of maturity are potatoes marketed? 



3. What parts of the coimtry supply the markets with potatoes at the differ- 



ent seasons of the year? 



4. What weather conditions are most favorable to the growth of potatoes? 



5. Name six states of importance in the production of late or "main crop" 



potatoes. 



6. When are early potatoes planted? When are they harvested? 



7. Name three varieties of early potatoes. 



8. What kind of soil is considered best for potatoes? 



9. Describe the preparation of land for the growing of potatoes. 



10. Discuss the "lulling" of potatoes. How can it be avoided? 



11. Describe the planting of potatoes by hand. By machinery. 



12. At what distances may potatoes be planted? 



13. Of what does the potato "seed" consist? 



14. WTiat size of seed piece do you prefer? Why? 



15. Describe the proper tillage of potatoes. 



16. Describe the straw-mulch method of growing potatoes without tillage. 



17. Wliat arc the principal enemies of the potato crop and how may they be 



controlled? 



18. Contrast hand and machine methods of harvesting potatoes. 



