ElCHAED FrOTSCHEE'S AlMANAC AND GaRDE^s MaXuAL 



be more readily and rapidly removed by pulling them ont with the 

 hand ; while, should grass appear between the rows, the sweep passed 

 through will effectually get rid of it. 



It will be perceived that this method of cultivation necessitates 

 high ridges along the rows of potatoes ; and hence the necessity, first 

 for planting in a deep furrow or trench and secondly for having the 

 furrows three and a half feet apart. Unless the furrow or trench be 

 quite deep, ftilly eight inches below the land-level, the rows should be 

 still further apart to permit this gradual hilling process. The object of 

 deep planting, slight covering at first, followed by two successive cover- 

 ings and a final hilling, is to make the potato produce three layers of 

 tubers, one above the other, by which the crop is rendered nearly or 

 quite three times as great as if covered' once only. And, as at each 

 covering new rootlets are formed higher up the caulm or stem, the 

 fertilizer is applied so as to supply these additional rootlets with plant 

 food. 



The fertilizers best adapted to potatoes are decomposed vegetable 

 matter, potash, phosphoric acid and lime. Stable manure is too heat- 

 ing, unless thordiigldu rotted. Practically I find lime, applied to the 

 sod before turning under in August or September, with cotton seed 

 meal and cotton seed hull ashes to give satisfactory crops with the 

 leaves, pine straw, chaff or wheat straw in the trenches. Of course the 

 addition of fine bone meal in addition will show its results manifestly, 

 and is well worth the additional expense. Eight hundred pounds each 

 of cotton seed meal and hull ashes, with four hundred pounds of fine 

 bone meal per acre, costing altogether not exceeding $22.00, applied as 

 above stated, with this method of cultivation, should in an average 

 season give 250 bushels of potatoes. It is the poorest economy to 

 attempt to grow potatoes without proper and sufficient fertilizers and 

 thorough cultivation ; but with these one can count on producing from 

 one acre, at less expense for seed, labor, team and fertilizer, three 

 times as large a crop, of infinitely superior quality, as is generally pro- 

 duced with ordinary cultivation. 



The maturity of the tubers is readily manifested by the tops turn- 

 ing yellow and commencing to dry up or die. They should then be 

 promptly dug, or the new tubers in the event of rain will take what is 

 termed a second growth— another expression for commencing to germ- 

 inate—which renders them watery, hard and worthless for food. If 

 possible, let the potatoes be dug when it is tolerably dry and sunny. 

 As soon as the earth adhering to the potatoes is dry they should be 

 removed the same day and placed under shelter in a cool place. If 

 there be a flooring of lattice work or lathing through which the air 

 can freely pass from below, it is highly beneficial. But care must be 

 taken not to place the tubers in too large masses or piles, so as to pre- 

 vent healing or fermentation. When placed under shelter, g}*i:)sum or 

 ground plaster at the rate of about two quarts per barrel should be 

 scattered over the tubers. This absorbs the moistiu-e, and prevents 

 heating and decay. If gently turned over and rolled in the gypsum at 

 the end of three or four days, the tubers will be ready for shipment in 

 three or four days more. Or, if intended for preservation, they will 

 remain perfectly sound till next season. Lime in the place of gypsum, 



