146 The Potato 



The advantages of having sufficient soil over the seed 

 to permit wide tillage after planting are so great that it 

 pays growers to plant deep enough for this purpose. 

 The bottom of the furrow made by the planter or marking 

 tool should be at least two inches below the level of the 

 surface of the soil and better three or four; for sandy 

 soil likely to be dry, even more. Growers are often 

 deceived at the depth they plant by looking at the depth 

 of the mark below the level of the earth thrown out by 

 the marking tool instead of taking the measure from the 

 true level of the surface soil to the bottom of the furrow. 



Hill and drill planting 



Two principal methods of planting are used in the 

 United States. Potatoes are said to be in hills, checks 

 or squares when the ground is marked both ways and 

 the seed dropped at the intersection of the mark. This 

 method is much used for hand planting. It has the 

 advantages of permitting cultivation both ways and 

 so weeds are easier kept under control. With poor soils 

 the large area allowed to each hill is an advantage, as 

 each hill has enough space to produce a good yield. Rows 

 in the United States are from 30 to 42 inches apart ac- 

 cording to the value of the land, the amount of stone in 

 the soil and according to the fertility. Unless the ground 

 is very poor, it is advisable to have the hills closer to- 

 gether in the short way of the field to give a large yield. 

 When planted in drills, the seed is planted from less than 

 12 inches apart in the row in the best soils, to sometimes 

 nearly 2 feet in poor soils. Planting in drills is rapidly 

 gaining ground in the United States, as the yield from 

 the larger number of hills is larger to the acre than when 



