102 



THE POTATO 



to the ground. This system, or a modification of it, is 

 used in the Aspinwall (Figs. 26-27), the Deere, and the 

 the Eureka planters. Trials with a planter of this type 

 showed that, with small whole seed and well : prepared 

 ground, this machine will work up to its guarantee of 

 95 per cent. ; that is, it will not skip more than 5 places 

 in 100. With longer cut seed and rougher land, espe- 



FIG. 28 THE ROBBINS IMPROVED PLANTER 



cially if slightly hilly, it will miss up to 20 in 100. If 

 these misses were distributed it would not be so serious, 

 but often 5 or 6 occur at a stretch. If the seed is cut 

 long and thin, the pickers may take hold of two pieces 

 instead of one. This happens frequently often up to 

 20 per cent. These machines open the furrow, distribute 

 the fertilizer, plant the potato, and cover. The latter 

 operation is usually performed by revolving concave 

 disks. The distance apart of the tubers is regulated by 

 adding or removing the pickers. The higher-priced 



