Productive farming . smooth and even. In some places the farmersridge the field and set the plants on the ridges. Otherspractice the level culture. Planting in the field should bedone when the soil is moist enough to produce a rapid growthafter setting the young plants. AVhere level culture is prac-ticed the plants are often set two or two and one-half feeteach way. Where ridges are made the rows are often threeand one-half feet apart and the plants fourteen to eighteen POTATOES 159 inches apart in the rows, requiring over 8000 plants peracre. The plants are set in the ground by hand, by tongs
Productive farming . smooth and even. In some places the farmersridge the field and set the plants on the ridges. Otherspractice the level culture. Planting in the field should bedone when the soil is moist enough to produce a rapid growthafter setting the young plants. AVhere level culture is prac-ticed the plants are often set two or two and one-half feeteach way. Where ridges are made the rows are often threeand one-half feet apart and the plants fourteen to eighteen POTATOES 159 inches apart in the rows, requiring over 8000 plants peracre. The plants are set in the ground by hand, by tongs,or by large machine planters. Cultivation is simple and does not last long as the vinessoon cover the ground. Large weeds are usually pulled byhand or cut T\ith hoes. Harvesting is done before cold weather. The vines mustbe cut loose from the hills before they are frozen to preventinjury of the crop. There are special plows, similar to , for digging sweet potatoes. Small areas are often dugwith spading Fig. 89.—\ single sweet potato from the hot-bed, showing many young the difference in the size of young plants. (Experiment Station, N. Storage is necessary if the crop is not sold pits and heated buildings are constructed for storingsweet potatoes. The roots must be handled with the greatestcare to avoid bruising them if they are to be stored. Whenfirst put into storage they go through a sweating or curingprocess; this requires a temperature of 85° or 90° F. Afterthat the temperature is kept at 55° to 65° F. A great deal ofventilation is required to keep the place perfectly dry. 160 PRODUCTIVE FARMING REVIEW. 1. Where was the Irish potato first found ? 2. What kinds of soils are best suited to potato growing ? 3. Describe the growing of a green maniire crop for a potato field. 4. Give directions for plowing for potatoes. 5. Tell of the times for planting early and late potatoes. 6. Give depths for planting; also distances
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidcu, booksubjectagriculture
