A B C OF FLORIDA TRUCKING 79 



the fertilizer well. Do not use lime or ashes on the land 

 you wish to plant in potatoes. If the land will not overflow, 

 it is not necessary to plant on much of a bed ; just make a 

 furrow, put the fertilizer in and cover. 



SEED. 



There are only two varieties of seed that are planted ex- 

 tensively in the potato sections. They are the Spaulding's 

 Rose No. 4, and the Red Bliss Triumph. AVhile other vari- 

 eties may do all right, but these have been given a thorough 

 test by leading potato growers and found to be the ideal 

 varieties for Florida. In the Hastings section the growers 

 v/ill not plant anything but the Spaulding's Rose No. 4. For 

 a fall crop, as I have said before, plant the Florida grown 

 seed, using the whole potato. \\'hile for a spring crop, 

 where Northern-grown stock is used, the seed has to be cut.. 

 Be careful to see that each cutting contains two good eyes 

 and is large enough to furnish nourishment for these eyes 

 until the cutting puts on roots or feeders. Care should be 

 taken in selecting seed stock, as everything depends on it 

 Do not use any seed that shows the least sign of blight ; 

 or if scabby, it should be treated before it is planted. It will 

 take about four barrels or sacks to the acre. 



PLANTING. 



This is usually done with a potato planter as shown in 

 the chapter on Implements, but it can be done by hand with 

 the aid of a hoe; although, if you have many acres to plant,. 

 a planter will soon pay for itself. Plant the seed about 

 twelve inches apart in the row and cover well. 



CULTIVATION. 



About a week after the seed has been planted it is a good 

 idea to go through the field and level the top of the beds 

 with a board scrape fastened on a horse plow or with a 

 liorse weeder, killing the weeds and grass that have started. 



