POTATOES 183 



best adapted to the arid districts, but calls for a 

 rather fertile soil and a good deal of moisture at 

 seeding time. Its use in this country is limited to 

 the production of macaroni. It is not used for 

 breadmaking. 



POTATOES.— The successful production of a 

 large crop of merchantable potatoes is, under exist- 

 ing conditions, largely dependent upon: (i) Suit- 

 able soil; (2) sufficient plant food; (3) good seed 

 of desirable varieties; (4) proper culture; and (5) 

 thorough spraying. Neglect on the part of the 

 grower to supply any or all of these conditions 

 inevitably lessens the resultant crop. 



Soils best adapted to potato culture are those of 

 well-drained, sandy or gravelly loam or clay loam 

 composition, containing an abundance of humus 

 and fairly retentive of moisture. Those that are 

 not adapted to potato culture and which should not 

 be used where possible to avoid it, are very heavy 

 clay or very light, sandy soils. These should be 

 avoided because of their poor mechanical texture. 

 Other soils that should not be devoted to potato 

 culture are those that are low or moist. These 

 are not adapted to the crop, because on such soils 

 the potato vine is almost sure to blight badly. 

 Good air and soil drainage are essential to success, 

 at least to the greatest degree of success. 



A clover sod is generally considered especially 

 desirable to turn under for a potato crop. This 

 should be plowed in the fall unless the exposure 

 of the soil is such as to cause undue washing by 

 heavy fall and spring rains. Plow as deeply as 

 the character of the soil will permit, say 6 to 8 

 or more inches. In the spring, preparatory to 

 planting, fit the land as tt\proughly as possible with 



