THE POTATO 



Spray thoroughly before the disease ap- 

 pears, for, after all, iJie disease cannot be 

 cured but only prevented. 



Harvesting. The early varieties may be 

 dug whenever they are large enough to use, but 

 the late varieties should be matured before 

 they are removed from the soil. The plant 

 should be kept growing until the leaves begin 

 to fall, the stems will then naturally turn yel- 

 low and ripen and this is the right time to 

 harvest the crop. Use a broad-tined fork or 

 a grub rake and do not dig too close to the 

 vines. If any of the potatoes are injured in 

 digging use them first, do not store these 

 bruised tubers with the perfect ones. 



Do not expose the potato to the sun and 

 air for long. The tubers should be dry before 

 packing, but if they are left out for several 

 days, or exposed to the sun for any length of 

 time, they shrink, are subject to disease and 

 may manufacture a poison in the tissue. 



The Sweet Potato. The sweet potato can- 

 not be grown successfully where the season is 



133 



