Special Needs 113 



firmly into the soil, about twelve inches apart, and 

 cover in, leaving them thus three to four inches 

 below the surface. Keep well cultivated, give a light 

 top dressing of nitrate of soda — and surprise all 

 your neighbors ! This system has not yet come ex- 

 tensively into use, but is practically certain of 

 producing excellent results. 



For the main crop, if you have room, cut good 

 seed to one or two eyes, leaving as much of the tuber 

 as possible to each piece, and plant thirteen inches 

 apart in rows three feet apart. Cultivate deeply 

 until the plants are eight to ten inches high and then 

 shallow but frequently. As the vines begin to 

 spread, hill up moderately, making a broad, low 

 ridge. Handle potato-bugs and blight as directed in 

 Chapter XIII (page 166). For harvesting see 

 Chapter XIV. 



While big crops may be grown on heavy soils, 

 the quality will be very much better on sandy, well 

 drained soils. Planting on well rotted sod, or after 

 green manuring, such as clover or rye, will also im- 

 prove the looks and quality of the crop. Like onions, 

 they need a high percentage of potash in manures 

 or fertilizers used ; this may be given in sulphate of 

 potash. Avoid planting on ground enriched with 

 fresh barnyard manure or immediately after a dress- 

 ing of lime. 



Salsify: — The "vegetable oyster," or salsify, is 



