88 BIGGLE GARDEN BOOK 



to four bushels of seed. Another method is to put 

 the seed in water ; infested seed will float on the sur- 

 face and may be skimmed off and burned. 



Cutworms : See Chapter XL 



Mildew and rust occasionally attack this crop, 

 particularly if the weather is unusually damp. If 

 your vines begin to wilt and turn yellow, fungous 

 disease of the stem near the ground is probably to 

 blame. Spraying with the Bordeaux mixture is a 

 preventive of these troubles if done early enough. 



POTATOES. The ground should be rich. Many 

 growers secure excellent results by annually broad- 

 casting about 1,000 pounds per acre of a complete 

 fertilizer containing plenty of potash. Stable manure 

 is good to loosen up clay soils, but where the potato 

 scab is prevalent, the constant use of large quantities 

 of stable manure is believed to increase this fungous 

 trouble. Potatoes do best in a loose, well-drained 

 loam, well provided with humus. A clover sod or a 

 crop of cowpeas, etc., plowed under in the fall, makes 

 an ideal field for me. Owing to scab and other po- 

 tato peculiarities, the potato grower needs to prac- 

 tise a systematic rotation of crops. 



Medium-sized seed is best. To start with, buy 

 northern-grown seed; then each year at digging 

 time, select tubers for seed from the best hills. 

 Avoid "Jumboes" or "littles." Treat the seed with 

 formalin (see Chapter V) to prevent scab. Cellar- 

 sprouted tubers are not so good for seed as those 

 which are unsprouted. Tubers sprouted a little in 

 sunlight just previous to planting are desirable when 

 extra early crops are wanted. Just how to cut the 

 seed is a disputed point, but those who cut so as to 

 leave at least two strong eyes on each seed piece, 

 will make no mistake. Some people discard the 



