FOR THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



25 



Well and 



profi 



^jpQHE best soil for potatoes is a rich, sandy or gravelly loam, which permits the free passage of water 

 y$\ after heavy rains. 



v-^7* The potato, being a gross feeder, requires a liberal application of manure ; if stable manure is to 

 be used, it should be well rotted, and not allowed to come in contact with the tubers. On no other crop 

 are the results from the use of phosphates so manifest as on the potato, almost invariably the tubers are 

 smoother, brighter, and freer from rust and the destructive influence of wire worms. The soil should be 

 constantly stirred through the season to prevent the surface from baking. Many seem to consider it harm- 

 ful, after the potatoes have set, to disturb the soil in any way ; this is contradicted by the experience of 

 the best growers, who run the cultivator until the vines are dead. In some sections "flat culture" is 

 preferred to " ridging," especially where droughts prevail, or the soil is very loose and sandy. 



For seed potatoes, select well formed tubers of good size. Some growers cut to one eye, leaving as large 

 a piece as possible attached. About 8 bushels are required by this method to properly seed an acre. 



Many successful growers plant medium size potatoes whole, maintaining that, though there is an increase 

 in small potatoes, there is a corresponding increase of marketable stock. That this is borne out by results 

 the following table, which has been made from careful competitive trials, will show. Taking 100 as a basis, 

 the account stands : 



Whole Potatoes, large, 100 per cent. 



Whole Potatoes, small, 79 " " 



Single eye, 36.16 " " 



Some growers cut their seed in halves lengthwise, while others cut them in quarters, both using large 

 potatoes. Under ordinary cultivation the process of cutting to a single eye is to, be deprecated, for the 

 young plants, not having sufficient nutriment, often start off weak, while many fail to grow at all. By 

 using larger seed the vines grow more vigorously at the start and are better able to stand the changes of the 

 season and yield satisfactory returns. More seed is required per acre for planting, but the crop will be in 

 every way more satisfactory and profitable. 



Clean tillage is absolutely indispensable to produce good results ; if the soil is not frequently stirred and 

 the weeds kept down, the crop will be short in quantity and deficient in quality. 



