THE POTATO IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 



31 



the loss sustained will be more than offset by having kept the weeds under control 

 at a critical stage. 



In cultivating potatoes the first time after they are up the cultivator should be 

 run as deep and as close to the row as practicable, and a little dirt should be thrown 

 into the rows to help control the weeds. There are several types of cultivator for 

 this work the one-horse cultivator, two-horse cultivator (Fig. 23), and four- or six- 

 shovel cultivator. All of these will do satisfactory work when used in the right 

 place. Subsequent cultivations should be shallower and carried on every ten days or 

 so. In dry weather the cultivation should be more frequent than in wet weather, the 

 object being to conserve as much moisture as possible. Cultivation may be continued, 

 if plants are not too large to interfere, until bloom-time. The number of cultiva- 

 tions during a season runs from three to six. 



In dry districts level cultivation should be practised. In irrigated districts or 

 districts where there is plenty of moisture during the growing season it is well to 

 set the cultivator in such a way as to work the soil toward the row. 



HILLING POTATOES. 



When potatoes are grown in districts where the summers are comparatively dry, 

 hilling of the crop is likely to be detrimental owing to the loss of soil-moisture which 

 will take place. If potatoes are likely to be sunburned, the rows may be slightly 

 ridged at the last cultivation. 



In irrigated districts or districts where there is plenty of moisture it may be 

 well to hill the potatoes. The soil will thus foe warm and loose, and therefore favour- 

 able for the production of good tubers. 



IRRIGATION. 



The secret of raising good potatoes under 

 irrigation appears to lie in being able to keep 

 the plants growing vigorously from the begin- 

 ning with no checks. Water should be applied 

 so that too suddeif growth will not be stimu- 

 lated at any time. 



The main point in the irrigation of 

 potatoes is a thorough preparation of the 

 soil. Deep fall ploughing of alfalfa or clover 

 sod with the manure added to the previous 

 crop is preferable. 



When the potatoes have grown large 

 enough so that the rows are visible, the 

 laud is marked for irrigation and irrigated 

 with about 4 acre-inches, then cultivated 

 deeply, decreasing the depth during the season 

 as it advances. Loose gravel soils need small 

 amounts of water at frequent intervals, say 

 every two weeks ; clay loam, larger amounts 

 at longer intervals. On good soils fair crops 

 of potatoes can be grown with 12 acre-inches 

 of water, but on gravelly soils 18 to 24 inches 

 would be better. The need for uniform mois- 

 ture must always be kept in mind, since it has 

 a tendency to keep the ground cool, especially 

 when shaded by the tops, and thus prevent 

 second growth starting from a premature rip- 

 mins. It is seldom advisable to irrigate after 

 bloom-time. The best plan is to plant potatoes 

 early and start them on the natural moisture if possible, as this is much stronger 

 in plant-food than when diluted with irrigation-water. 

 6 



Fig. 24. An Irrigated potato-field near 

 Kamloops (original i. 



