I*OTATO CULTURU. 47 



In tiie potato belt in tlie liig-li veld, this crop alternates witii 

 either maize aiid teff in the rotation, but no attempt whatsoever is 

 made at green manuring- with a legume. In the eastern Grange Free 

 State beans, wheat, and rye are often included in the rotation. 



Under irrigation the following two-year rotation may ])rove 

 useful : — 



First year : — 



AVinter crop. — Winter cereal, fertilized with superphosphate or bone 



dust. 

 Summer crop. — Beans for seed production or cowpcas plouglied 



under. 



Second year : — 



AVinler crop. — Winter cereal, fertilized. 



Summer crop. — Potatoes with kraal nmnure at tlie rale ol' 10 iuiis 

 per acre. 



Seed. 



The amount of seed required to plant an acre will vary with tlie 

 size of the sets, and the distances of planting. About 1000 lb. or 

 from 6 to 7 bags of tubers, the size of a hen's egg (2 to 2^ oz. in 

 weight), is the average quantity planted. 



On the quality of the seed planted, depends very much the 

 failure or success of the crop. The seed should be sound, free from 

 any disease, sprouted or ready to sprout. Provided the soil at the 

 time of planting contains a fair amount of moisture, large tubers 

 may be cut into halves, or, if very large, into quarters, leaving two or 

 three eyes to each piece. It is advisable to cover the cut surfaces 

 with ordinary lime, which will form a crust and thus prevent too 

 much moisture from escaping. Cut seed should be put in soon after 

 (tutting, and should under no circumstances be planted in dry ground. 

 On a whole very small tubers give disappointing results, especially 

 if the season is unfavourable. Seed potatoes are generally stored 

 in pits, pyramid heaps, or in sheds. Where dry winters are exi)e- 

 rienced the tubers are best left in the ground over winter, and lifted 

 before they start sprouting in spring. They can then be spread open 

 about 4 inches deep on the floor of a shed, and be turned over from 

 lime to time until required for planting. The most practicable 

 method, though, for storing a large quantity of seed is to put it into 

 mound or pyramid heaps. A cool, well drained spot is selected, and 

 slightly excavated before the tubers are thrown into long heaps and 

 well covered over with grass and straw to prevent them from being- 

 injured by frost, sun, etc. The pile should be examined now and 

 then to see whether the tubers are not decaying. In the Bethal and 

 Thaba 'Nchu areas most farmers store their seed very successfully 

 in this way. 



It is an undisputed fact that immature tubers give better results 

 than those fully matured. Some farmers, therefore, lift their crop 

 intended for seed before maturing, or if grown under irrigation they 

 do not irrigate the crop towards the end, and thus cause it to ripen 

 prematurely, which seems to have the same desirable effect as lifting 

 the crop when still immature. Farmers often experience difficulty 

 in getting potatoes from the crop planted in August to sprout in . 



