SEE0-T3ME AfiD HARVEST. 
which, however, is not saying that there 
are no good ones. The plow must be sharp 
and have a gentle horse attached *to it. I 
make a furrow on each side of the drill, 
just cutting up to the potatoes; then two 
more furrows will turn the drill upside 
down and throw the tubers on top of the 
ground. The plow must be set deep enough 
to pass under all the potatoes, else it will 
cut some. When rightly managed there 
will be less tubers cut in digging, when a 
plow is used than when a hoe, spade or 
fork is employed. If it is feared that any 
of the potatoes have been missed, the 
ground can be l arrowed; but after doing 
this a few times we became convinced that 
so few were missed, that harrowing did not 
pay. 
The less dirt that adheres to potatoes the 
better; hence, dig them when the ground 
is dry if it is possible to do so. As soon as 
dug, the potatoes should be placed where 
they will be sheltered from the sun, but 
where the air can reach them freely, that 
they may dry. If the ground is damp and 
sticky when they are dug, they should be 
spread out well; but if the ground is dry, 
they may be put in a pile, as the outside 
will be drj till more are thrown upon it. 
I generally make a roof of boards along the 
fence and pile the potatoes under it on a 
bed of grass or straw; but, as I have said, 
if the ground is wet and sticky the potatoes 
must be spread out more. Leave the pota¬ 
toes so until they are thoroughly dried. 
Then they must be gathered up by hand 
and the dirt rubbed off them; also, the 
roots removed. I notice that many people 
fail to do this, but the results pay well for 
the labor. When so much labor has been 
bestowed upon a crop, as it is necessary to 
the production of potatoes, it is certainly 
short-sighted policy to hazard its preserva¬ 
tion rather than bestow a little extra labor 
upon it. Experience and observation have 
convinced me that nothing conduces more 
to the keeping of potatoes in good condition 
than these two things—removal of dirt and 
of roots. 
This is the time to grade the potatoes, 
also. In digging, all potatoes, no matter 
how small, should be gathered up. When 
gone over by hand, the smaller and the 
larger ones can be sorted out. Grading po¬ 
tatoes is one of the important points in 
marketing them to the best advantage. 
Let all sizes be placed together and they 
will bring much less than if sorted out. I 
would make three divisions. Those too 
small for use or market, those of a fail- 
size, and large ones. To gather up those 
too small for cooking, pays, for they can 
be fed to hogs. I would separate those for 
market into the medium sized and the 
large, for the more uniform in size pota¬ 
toes are the better they sell; and when a 
few large ones are mixed in with those of 
fair size, the former make the latter look 
smaller, and all sell for less than would the 
medium-sized ones alone. 
When the potatoes are cleared of roots 
and earth and assorted, I convey them to, 
and store them in some airy shed. The 
rain and sun must be kept out and that is 
all that is necessary. A stock shed or an 
empty corn-crib is excellent. The barn, 
wagon-shed, wood-house or carriage-house 
may be made to do duty. Whatever place 
is selected, see that it is airy and cool. In 
it leave the potatoes till there is danger of 
their being frozen, when they are to be 
buried or stored in the cellar. 
They may be dumped on the floor of their 
temporary storage place, but it is better to 
have them in bins. If put upon the floor 
rats and mice will congregate about them, 
and it will be impossible for the cats and 
dogs to drive these pests out; besides, if the 
tubers are placed so near the ground as the 
floor of a granary or out-house generally 
is, or upon the ground itself, they are apt 
to draw dampness, and dampness favors 
rot. I make my bins to stand about a foot 
from the floor, and out from the walls, so 
that the air can circulate under and around 
them, and the cats have a fair chance at the 
mice and rats. I use no straw in the bins 
as it draws moisture and also increases the 
attractions to the mice. If the potatoes are 
poured in carefully they will not be bruised, 
though no straw be used in the bins. 
For handling potatoes a steel shovel 
should never never be used. It is sure to 
cut and bruise the tubers. A wooden shov¬ 
el is easily made, and does not injure the 
potatoes. It should be made of tough 
wood—white oak or hickory is best. If an 
old cloth is laid in the bottom of the basket 
or measure used to carry the potatoes, some 
bruises will be avoided. Wherever a pota¬ 
to is bruised it is pretty sure to rot; and 
will not only rot itself, but those in contact 
with it. 
