Early Potatoes 303 



by (1) selecting early" soil and site; (2) by preparing 

 the land the fall before, either by means of special plow- 

 ing or by growing a late -tilled crop; (3) by using 

 quickly available concentrated fertilizers; (4) by choos-^ 

 ing early varieties ; (5) by sprouting the potatoes in a 



Fig. 81. A hill of potatoes in stiff clay soil. The tubers are too near 

 the surface. The old seed-piece is at A. 



warm place before planting (before the tubers are cut), 

 allowing the sprouts to become 3-6 inches long. 



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 in order to 



