CHAPTER IX 

 MANAGEMENT OF THE GROWING CROP 



Cultivation. — Almost invariably judicious cultiva- 

 tion of potato land is profitable. It is secondary to 

 good preparation of the land. The objedt is not 

 primarily to destroy weeds, although this may be a 

 consideration. To-day intelligent farmers till to in- 

 crease yield. Tillage is manuring. No better illustra- 

 tions of this fadt can be found than the tillage experi- 

 ments of Roberts and others at Cornell University.' In 

 these trials potatoes were grown several years in suc- 

 cession, without manures or fertilizers, upon the same 

 land, and yields varying from 300 to 350 bushels per 

 acre, or three to four times the average j-ield of the 

 State, were secured for several years. This illustrates 

 the value of tillage, but in its entirety is not necessarily 

 a good pra(5tice. Tillage destroys humus, and as this 

 is one of the most essential constituents of a good 

 potato soil, a rotation of crops is advised to aid in 

 maintaining the supply. Tillage may be overdone, 

 especially deep tillage in dry weather. During such a 

 time only sufficient shallow tillage should be given to 

 maintain a mulch. 



At Cornell from seven to nine cultivations seemed to 

 be most profitable, or about every seven to ten days until 

 the potato-vines meet in the rows. Tillage must be 

 given when necessary. The right number of cultiva- 



' (N. Y.) Cornell Bui. 140, pp. 389-390; 191, p. 192. 



105 



