546 Agriculhiral Journal of Victoria. 



for existence, it is not so favorably placed as is one which has no 

 wound. When a tuber is cut so as to provide n large number of sets, 

 the sets are small ; therefore, so far as possible, the struggle to 

 establish a plant must be facilitated by all reasonable means. The 

 experience of the last few years shows that this may be done on a 

 large scale at a moderate cost. When in a previous article we urged 

 that it was not a matter of overwhelming difficulty to cut each eye 

 from a potato, and pot it separately so so to give it favorable oppor- 

 tunities to produce a plant, there were those who expressed the 

 contrary view, and maintained that it was impossible for it to be done 

 except on a limited scale. To confirm our expressed views we last 

 spring had 50,000 eyes cut from 14 cwt. of tubers, and planted in as 

 many pots. The plants grew with a very small percentage of misses, 

 and at the present time we have nearly eight acres growing vigorously 

 in the field. Few who have seen the crops would previously have 

 believed that the fine plants now growing could have been raised 

 from other than a whole set of ordinary seed size. 



As a means of placing this work before others so that they may 

 practise it, we give a detailed description of our methods at the 

 Manor Farm, Ham. Cutting out eacli eye and potting was com- 

 menced at the beginning of April, though in ordinary circumstances 

 it might be begun earlier. Two reasons led to this — first, the eyes 

 were backward ; and second, it was thought desirable not to be too 

 early for fear of spring frosts after they were transplanted into the 

 field. No large buildings or sheds were available, so an outdoor 

 camp had to be devised. A piece of ground was levelled and the 

 pots were placed in ranges about ten pots wide with narrow pathways 

 between. Some loose mould was spread over the ground, and 3-inch 

 pots were set in. this as closely as possible to one another. The north 

 side and the ends were made of walls of straw about 4 feet 6 inches 

 high, but on the south side only about 2 feet G inches, so as to admit 

 sun. A range of 4-incli by 8-inch stakes was set up the middle, 

 standing about 3 feet above ground. Along this was stretched a 

 stout wire. Cross strands of wire were run from side to side over 

 the middle row of piles, and these were attached at either side to a 

 row of piles about 15 inches high, so that when the covers were put 

 on they had a good shoot to clear the rainfall. The sheets were 12 feet 

 wide, and were fitted with rings so that they were easy to furl. In 

 sunny weather it is well to admit all possible sunshine, and a 

 ready means of furling and covering is desirable. 



Having put down the pots, into which small pieces of crocks were 

 placed, and set up the shelter, cutting was commenced. At the same 

 time earth was finely sifted and placed in the pots, after being mixed 

 with a small quantity of super-phosphate of lime. As fast as the 

 sets were cut they were sprinkled with slaked lime, and straightway 

 potted. With such small sets it is advisable to place the eye upwards. 

 The pots were nearly filled, and the earth very lightly pressed; a 

 hole was opened with a knife and the set put in ; subsequently a 

 little loose mould was sprinkled over to fill the pots. 



