I04 THE POTATO 



regulated by interchangeable sprockets. The various 

 parts of the machine are driven by means of a chain 

 drive. This machine opens the row, distributes the 

 fertilizer in rather a wide stream, plants the potato, 

 and covers it in a satisfactory manner. Any ordinary 

 required depth can be obtained. It can be used for 

 planting beans, com, and other crops. With potato- 

 planters three to six acres can be planted per day. 



Losses of crop due to insufficient seeding cannot be 

 made up during the 3-ear. The land requires the same 

 amount of work, and the soil needs moving at digging- 

 time; but there is not the yield, and it is an important 

 consideration whether 5 per cent, to 20 per cent, loss 

 of plants per acre is not too high a price for the sake or 

 one man's pay per da)-. Even with the cheapest 

 " picker ' ' planter, the lower initial cost is not sufficient 

 to recompense the grower for the loss sustained by 

 using it on ten acres when compared with the perfedl 

 machine. 



