~

Potato bugs have now arrived, a bug shaker was invented which would shake the bugs off the plants into a large container and I have heard that they were used for hen feed. One of these bug shakers used

to be on display at the Experimental Farm when Mr. Robert Parent was in charge. ‘

Later Paris Green was used in a blower which suspended from

the shoulders and the user turned a crank while walking through the potatoes doing two rows at a time.

In the fall the potatoes were dug out with a plough, one had to

do a lot of scratching in order to get the potatoes; leaning over was a back breaker.

The old McIntyre potato was a favourite, it was especially good with herring. A potato digger was the next invention which made dig-

ging easier. The first potato grader used on the Island was made by Thomas and Harry Schurman.

The white potatoes were in demand they could not stand much rough usage, the elevator digger came later, it left the potatoes in a nar- row row behind, which were easily picked up, some used a picker behind the digger. For sometime back, potatoes have been sprayed regularly for blight and bugs with a large tractor—drawn sprayer.

A few years ago the combine and bulk tanks came into use which make potato harvesting much easier.

GRAIN

When the pioneer farmer had the soil prepared, he sowed the grain from a basket which hung from his shoulders and he threw the seed over the ground. The harrowing was done with a wooden-toothed harrow.