80 FACTS .IXD FIGURES OR THE 



In working the potatoes always throw the dirt to them so 

 that at the last working they will have a good wide bed, as 

 it is in this bed the potatoes are made. In case of a freeze, 

 if the vines are not too large, plow dirt over them, removing 

 it as soon as the cold is over. 



DIGGING. 



While there are several machines on the market for dig- 

 ging potatoes, there are none that give the results that you 

 can get from the colored man and the potato hoe. One of 

 the advantages in digging by hand is that you can grade 

 them as they are dug. 



PACKING AND SHIPPING. 



Have the potato barrels in the field, putting the potatoes 

 irx them as soon as they come out of the ground. Cover 

 them with grass or potato vines until you are ready to put 

 the head in the barrel. This is done with the aid of a hand 

 barrel press. Be sure that you have the barrel well filled. 

 Make three grades of the spuds, fancy, number 2 and num- 

 ber 3, or culls. Ship only the fancy and number 2. saving 

 the number 3 for eating and fall seed. 



SPRAYING. 



Some very successful potato growers contend that it 

 does not pay to spray, but you will find a majority of the 

 most successful growers spraying their crops as regularly 

 as they work them, and their fields are always free frona 

 blight, which is the greatest enemy of the potato in Florida. 

 The best spray to use is the old reliable Bordeaux mixture. 

 11 any eating insects attack the vines, spray with arsenate 

 of lead, but you will hardly have to do this, as the potato 

 has very few, if any, insect enemies in this section of the 

 country. Examine the potato seed very carefully and if 

 you find scabby stock among them, soak for two hours in 

 the following solution: Formalin eight ounces, water fif- 

 teen gallons. 



