210 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



brought forth the hearty endorsement of thousands 

 now using them. Although at first thought seemingly 

 impossible, the division of eyes is fully equal to hand 

 work. The eyes of all potatoes are spirally arranged, 

 and at a distance apart increasing in geometrical pro- 

 gression from the seed end toward the stem. The 

 Aspinwall Cutter is constructed on this very principle, 

 and consists of a bed of knives arranged in like progres- 

 sion, by which it is adapted to cut potatoes of various 

 sizes, making the division of eyes equal to the average 

 hand work. 



The amount of seed per acre depends upon the size 

 of seed and distance of planting. Whole potatoes will 

 not go as far as cut seed. The one eye system is prob- 

 ably the most economical and should be adopted to in- 

 crease new varieties. When the distance between the 

 rows is thirty inches and thirteen inches in the drill, 

 about six or seven bushels (according to size of the 

 potatoes being cut) are required per acre. If three 

 feet between the rows and 13 inches in the drill, about 

 one-fifth less seed will be required. Let us note that 

 a bushel of seed cut to one eye will plant nearly double 

 the area that if cut to two eyes. The seed end, which 

 contains eyes closely grouped, cannot be divided, hence 

 should be cut off. When seed is cut to two eyes or 

 thereabouts, and planted 13 inches in the drills, which 

 are thirty inches apart, eight or nine bushels are re- 

 quired per acre. When the rows are three feet apart, 

 about one-fifth less seed will be required. In measure- 

 ment, it is to be understood as having reference to seed 

 after being cut. When planting small potatoes whole, 

 thirty inches between the rows and fifteen in the drills 

 (which is close enough), from ten to twelve bushels 

 must be allowed to the acre, according to size of the 

 seed. Owing to the great variation in size of both whole 

 and cut seed, allowance should be made from the above 

 which is given approximately. 



How deep to plant is a question the answer of 

 which must be governed by the variety of potatoes to 

 be planted, kind and condition of soil, and climate. 

 The practice of ridge or hill culture some years ago 

 gave place to what is known as level culture, which 

 is simply deep planting, and, consequently, less hilling. 

 In localities which for a series of years suffered from 

 severe droughts, the method of planting was gradually 

 increased until a depth of ten inches was reached. 

 With the return of normal conditions, the depth of 

 planting was again lessened. There must certainly be 

 a limit to the depth of planting, both as to certainty 



IF--M! 



Figure 6. BED OF KNIVES IN POTATO CUTTER. 



of the seed coming up and the labor required in digging. 

 The object of deep or level culture is to enable the 

 plants to withstand dry seasons, which were prevalent 

 during the last decade (1890 to 1897). Although level 

 culture still has some adherents, the depth of planting 

 should be based upon a condition of climate and soil. 

 Level culture should not be practiced where the climate 

 and soil is damp. In the humid climate of England 

 the practice is exclusively ridge culture. Experience in 

 that country has proved that excess of moisture and the 



tendency to decay must be avoided by shallow planting, 

 and the plants sufficiently earthed up to carry off the 

 moisture. Eidges or hills present a large surface to the 

 air and sunlight, hence a rapid evaporation. In Ger- 

 many, where the climate is less humid, the practice is 

 to plant deeper. From the foregoing, it is obvious that 

 the depth of planting should also be governed by the 

 condition of the particular field to be planted, in con~- 

 nection with climatic influence. If inclined to be wet, 

 shallow planting with ridge or hill culture should be 

 the rule; if dry, level culture will produce the best re- 

 sults. Those varieties having a tendency to protrude 

 from the soil should be planted deep enough to prevent 

 exposure of the tubers. A safe range for average 

 varieties is from three to six inches, according to soil 

 and conditions, three inches in damp soil and deeper 

 in dry localities. Let us also note the difference be- 

 tween whole and cut seed in reference to planting. 

 The one eye system leaves but little nourishment in each 

 piece compared with the whole potato. With com- 

 paratively little vitality, the sprouts cannot well force 

 their way through more than three inches of earth. 

 With deeper planting much irregularity will result, 

 both as to coming up and vigor of the plants. The 

 feeble growth attendant upon planting cut seed too d6op 

 has many times been charged to the seed rather than 

 the depth of planting. Considering the vigorous growth 

 from the whole seed, even when planted six or seven 

 inches deep, let us remember the limitation of depth 

 when planting small pieces. We plant cut seed for 

 two reasons, to economize in the use of seed and to 

 produce a greater proportion of marketable potatoes. 

 We can produce more large potatoes from cut seed in 

 average soils than from whole potatoes, provided we 

 comply with the requirements essential to their growth. 

 The distance apart to plant depends upon the 

 variety of potatoes and fertility of the soil. The heavy 

 growing sorts require more space than those having 

 small vines. Rich soil will admit of close planting in 

 proportion to its fertility. When planting in drills, 

 the usual distance for average varieties is about thirteen 

 inches, and fifteen for the stronger sorts, when .the 

 seed is cut to two eyes. If cut to one eye, the disttnce 

 may be lessened between the rows. Where the land 

 is very fertile, the distance between the rows sh6uld 

 be about twenty-seven inches. By close planting in 

 rich soil, the vines will cover the entire ground, and 

 serve to prevent a growth of weeds, also aid in retaining 

 the moisture. In the neighborhood of large cities in 

 the older settled portions of the country, close planting 

 is the rule, some growers making the distance between 

 the rows less than twenty-four inches. In England and 

 Germany the distance between the rows is not above 

 twenty-seven inches, and frequently as close as twenty- 

 two. The high price of land has necessitated the great- 

 est production possible, hence close planting. The 

 writer has induced some few to adopt the English 

 standard of width, which is twenty-seven inches.Vi Al- 

 though the change was made with hesitancy, the results 

 were higly satisfactory. Why not profit by this ex- 

 perience and bring a smaller acreage to a higher state 

 of cultivation which will require less time to plow, 

 harrow, plant, cultivate and harvest? The object of 

 all culture should be to obtain the largest yield from 

 the smallest acreage with the least outlay. Land which 

 has been cultivated fifty or one hundred years has the 

 tendency to produce smaller tops, while in new land 



