8 April, 1907] 



Seed Potato House. 



229 



the result that the plant has to struggle against adverse conditions. For 

 the potato plant to flo'urish, a temperature of over 60 degrees is required. In 

 support of this I may mention a parcel of Early Rose and Carman No. i 

 seed planted in my own field. The seed was dug early in April, spread 

 out all the winter on the barn floor, cut mostly to a single eye, and planted 

 on the 6th December. They were above ground in ten days, and before 

 the 6th January many of the plants were in bloom. By the end of the 

 first week in February, or under ten weeks after planting, there was a 

 crop of tubers large enough to lift, but, of course, toO' green to handle. 



It should be remembered that the fine texture and early varieties 

 are liable to injury if stored in pits, especially so in districts where plant- 

 ing cannot start until the end of October or the beginning of November. 

 By this time the days are lengthening, ajid the temperature is increasing 



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SIDE ELEVATION. 



daily, causing the tubers to throw out their buds, and, as they are closely 

 packed together, the air cannot circulate through the heap. The result 

 is that the potatoes soon become a mass of sprouts, and long shoots force 

 their way to the open air. Further, in- this unventilated cond'tio-n they 

 heat, and soon begin to rot. Tubers kept in this way will, when cut, im- 

 mediately turn black inside, and, if planted, are sure to rot. while whole 

 tubers are very little better. 



Instances have come under my notice this season where crops of early 

 potatoes have failed or missed badly. Had the seed been kept under 

 proper conditions, this would not have occurred. 



The accompanying illustration of a shed for storing seed potatoes will 

 give some idea of what is required. The posts are 4 ft. 6 ins. out of the 

 ground, carrying a plate at the top to take the rafters. The material of 

 the roof should be of thatch or bark, and should project at least 2 feet 

 over the sides of the shed. The floor should be 6 inches off the ground 

 at the outside, and slightly raised at the centre; it should be composed 

 of i|-in. X I -in. battens, laid on edge, and fastened to the joists,_the 

 battens being spaced at such distances as not to allow the small sets to 



