Potato Culture. 43 



crop. The summer heat in most localities is too great, and the rain- 

 fall often too irregular. Potatoes require a cool damp climate for 

 the highest yields. Where such a climate obtains, the crop thrives 

 well. Our climate is uudoubtedly mainly responsible for our low 

 average yield of one ton per acre. This statement is corroborated 

 by the fact that although the crop does well in the low veld districts, 

 Barberton, Zoutpansberg, etc., during the winter and early spring 

 months, it does not thrive there at all as a summer crop. It is 

 noticeable that where the summers are comparatively cool, and the 

 rainfall fairly regular, as for example in the Bethal and Thaba 'Nchii 

 Districts, potatoes do exceedingly well. Probably the highest yields 

 per bag and per acre are obtained on top of the liaenertsburg Moun- 

 tains, 36 miles east of Pietersburg. In this particular locality with 

 its high altitude, the climate is always cool, and the rainfall high 

 and fairly regular. While hot, dry weather is very detrimental to 

 the crop, excessive moisture is as harmful by causing the crop to get 

 " drowned " or to decay in the ground. 



Soil Requirements and its Preparation. 



The crop is grown with more or less success on a wide range of 

 soils. The ideal one, however, appears to be a naturally well 

 drained, deep, friable loam containing an abundant supply of well 

 decayed organic matter. Most of the potatoes grown in the TJniou 

 to-day are grown on sandy loams, varying in colour from " vaal " 

 to red. The^' do well on virgin or newly " l)raaked " soil, provided 

 a good fine seed-bed has been prepared. When grown on very sandy 

 soils, it is necessary that the soil receive a green manuring and liberal 

 applications of fertilizers, or a good dressing of kraal manure. 



On the preparation of the seed-bed depends largely the success 

 or failure of the crop. It is no secret that the potato demands more 

 thorough cultivation than most farm crops, and Avill give the highest 

 returns for it. 



The ploughing, where possible, should be deep and thorough, 

 so as to produce a deep, mellow, moist seed-bed. In the potato areas 

 of the Union, e.g. Bethal and Thaba 'Nchii, farmers report that they 

 plough the fields intended for this crop, from 9 to 12 inches deep. 

 At Bethal the land is ploughed at least twice before the crop is 

 planted — once during the winter months, and again in spring at the 

 time of planting — while at Thaba 'Nchu, three ploughings, including 

 the one at the time of planting, are not unusual. 



Planting. 



There are at least two methods in vogue in the Union, namely, 

 the " ridge " and the " flat " systems. In the former the tubers 

 are planted in furrows or drills previously drawn with a ridging 

 plough after the seed-bed has been prepared. In the latter method 

 they are planted between the second and third share or disc of a 

 three-furrow^ plough, or else in the second furrow of a two-furrow 

 plough followed by a single-furrow plough to cover up the seed. 



Most of the seed is planted by hand as machines have thus far 

 proved unsatisfactory. The sets are placed either slightly to the right 



