210 



Tlie Potato Crops 



The grower who is not a potato-breeder should purchase 

 seed of quality from persons who give it special attention. 



In the Southern States, the common or Irish potato 

 (also called ^'^ round potato'^ and "white potato") is a 

 minor crop in general farm operations. The crop must be 

 grown either early or late in the season to avoid the long 

 hot summer. It is then difficult to keep the potatoes from 

 the spring crop until the next spring, or even until it is 

 time to plant the second crop in August (in the Gulf 

 States). "Seed" is commonly secured from the North, 

 and only a spring crop is grown for the Northern market. 



Harvesting and storing. 



In small areas, potatoes are dug by hand, a potato hook 

 or fork being used. In field operations, various horse- 

 drawn diggers are employed. The implements cut under 

 the row and lift out the potatoes, or turn them out as 

 from a furrow. Usually there are rear fingers on the 



108. Outside storage of potatoes. 



