104 LARGE PROFITS IN POTATOES 



are grown in consecutive years on the same soil the 

 disease must necessarily increase. 



The potato bug or beetle is destroyed with paris green 

 at the rate of one pound to the acre in twenty-five gal- 

 lons of water. Arsenate of lead applied at the rate of 

 six pounds to the acre in fifty gallons of water will prove 

 equally efficacious. Scab and blight are controlled by the 

 bordeaux mixture, which is best applied a week or two 

 after the bugs have been disposed of. 



Potatoes are so hardy that they are raised to advan- 

 tage in the most northerly states, and even in Siberia and 

 other cold countries. Seed produced in the north will 

 show good results in southern states, but this is a rule 

 that will not work both ways. Tubers originating in a 

 semi-tropical climate have to be acclimated in the north 

 before returning satisfactory crops. 



On any farm in the country some parts are much better 

 adapted to potatoes than others. Sandy soil is not a 

 moisture-retaining soil, and in wet weather there is little 

 danger of tubers rotting in the soil. In dry seasons 

 mulching is highly beneficial, as it tends to hold and con- 

 serve the little moisture available. Seeds grown under 

 mulch and those grown with the best cultivation have 

 been compared and the former found to produce 50 per 

 cent better yields. If clover is raised after potatoes 

 grown with a mulch a surprisingly good stand is obtained. 



The time to mulch is just as soon as the first crop of 

 weeds has been destroyed by cultivation. A thick layer 

 of leaves or straw is required. This will save the soil 

 from surface washing and will keep down the weeds. It 

 conserves moisture and adds humus. 



Plow in plenty of manure in the fall. When the 

 weather becomes favorable in the spring use a disk un- 

 less the ground happens to be dry, in which case harrow- 

 ing is better, as it will tend to conserve the moisture. 

 If the land is not perfectly level the rows should con- 



