THE FLOKAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 343 



FEAME CTJLTUEE OF THE POTATO. 



BY "WILLIAM COLE, 

 Head Gardener, Ealing Park, Middlesex, W. 



HE cultivation of potatoes in frames must, to insure a 

 supply of tubers of good quality at the earliest possible 

 moment be commenced in November, and two suc- 

 cessional crops be planted afterwards. But when the 

 convenience exists for one crop only, it will be better 

 to defer planting until the beginning of the year, because, although 

 the crop will be later, it will be much heavier and better in quality. 

 Whether planted now, or in January or February, the planting must 

 be performed in precisely the same manner. 



A pit or frame is the most suitable structure for potatoes, becau.^e 

 the haulm can then be kept near the glass, and be fully exposed to 

 the light, and enjoy a free circulation of air about it. A heated pit 

 is not absolutely required, although in the case of the crop planted 

 in November, the hot-water pipes will be useful in assisting to keep 

 out the frost, but too much artificial heat at any state will be 

 injurious, as it will promote the too rapid production of haulm. 

 Good crops may be obtained from unheated pits, as, with the assist- 

 ance of mats and dry litter, there will not be much difficulty in 

 keeping out the frost. lu any case the best results will be obtained 

 by making up a bed of leaves in the pit or frame, and then covering 

 it with a layer of soil in which to plant the sets. The leaves should 

 be moderately dry, and be trodden firm to prevent them sinking very 

 much after the soil is put on. Where leaves cannot be obtained, 

 stable manure may be employed instead, but it is apt to heat too 

 violently at first, and then become cold. Therefore, every effort 

 should be made to gather a few loads with which to fill the pit 

 devoted to the potatoes, or to make up a bed upon which to place a 

 frame for the same purpose. With leaves there is no danger of 

 overheating, and they may, therefore, be covered with soil imme- 

 diately after they are made up into a bed. With reference to the 

 preparation of the :-oil, it may be said that it should be rather light 

 and rather rich. Any good light soil will do very well after it has 

 been incorporated with a liberal proportion of well-decayed manure. 

 A depth of twelve inches will suffice for the soil, and in planting, 

 open out trenches twelve inches apart, and four inches in depth. In 

 these lay the sets from nine to twelve inches apart, and then cover 

 them with the soil drawn from the trenches. The frame may then 

 be shut lip until the tops begin to make their appearance above the 

 soil. After this stage a little air must be admitted whenever the 

 weather is favourable to air-giving to insure a stocky growth. The 

 weather alone must regulate the admission of air to the frame. In 

 December and January very little air will suffice, but from the 

 beginning of February onwards, the frames will require ventilating 

 more freely. The earliest crop should have a little soil drawn over 

 the tops of the shoots when they first make their appearance above 



Kovember. 



