POTATOES 379 



In connection with this lesson, each pupil might bring 

 some shrub or small tree from home or the woods to 

 transplant in the school yard. 



Reference: Farmers' Bulletin, No. 245. 



i 



LESSON LXXVIII 



POTATOES 



On our farm plan in Lesson 1, we have one acre to 

 plant in potatoes. We are to learn something in this 

 esson about potato planting, potato culture, and potato 

 pests. 



Potato soil. Light sandy soils, rich in humus, are the 

 best soils for potatoes. Heavy clay soils interfere with 

 the growth of the potatoes and often make them small. 

 Soil for potatoes should be deeply plowed, and laid 

 off in rows about three feet apart. The potatoes should 

 be planted from four to five inches deep, and about 

 eighteen inches apart in the rows. 



Planting potatoes. There is much difference of 

 opinion as to the method of cutting the potatoes for 

 planting. Excellent results have been obtained by plant- 

 ing the whole potato, a single one in a hill. The usual 

 practice recommended is to cut the seed potatoes into 

 halves or quarters, at least two eyes to a piece, using 

 one or two pieces to a hill. The best potatoes should 

 be used for seed and not the small discarded ones. A 

 handful of bone meal should be dropped into the bot- 

 tom of each hill and covered with an inch of soil before 

 placing the seed. 



