Report on the Cultivation of Potatoes, 483 



tlie cattle force them and protect them from frost, unless it be very severe, 

 when we cover them with straw, which wc allow to remain while keen frosts con- 

 tinue, looking at them occasionally to see that tliey are not getting too forward. 

 We also reverse the tiers of boxes top to bottom two or three times dm'ing the 

 winter, because the lower boxes sprout quicker than the higher ones. 



" Sometimes we box some of our seed straight off the field in July or 

 August, and it keeps remarkably well, unless the disease has made its appearance 

 among them before they have been raised. The unpleasant smell from the tops, 

 and the spots on the leaves are the first indications of disease, and this occurs 

 before we can perceive anything amiss with the tubers. When we find this 

 to be the case, we lose no time to get them off to market, because we are fully 

 convinced that when this happens the tubers will go, though they may appear 

 quite sound, notwithstanding that the disease exists in the tops. Unless they 

 can be sent to market at once, we prefer to let them remain in the soil until 

 the tops are quite dead : for this reason — those tubers that may resist the 

 disease lie more separate from those already affected, and therefore stand a 

 better chance of keeping sound." 



There appears to be no variation from the Lancashire practices 

 worthy of notice in reference to the distance apart of the setts, 

 the width of the drills, or the after-cultivation of the potato- 

 plant, except that, with reference to " butts," Mr. Moreton states 

 that they are soiled almost immediately after planting;, hand-hoed 

 4 or 5 inches high, and hand-weeded after if necessary. 



The preponderance of opinion again appears to be in favour 

 of Skerry Blues, as the best late kind, and next to them Pater- 

 son's Victoria. Sir VVatkin Wynn's gardener remarks, " Singular 

 to say, the reputed ' Flour Ball ' proved last year to be the worst 

 affected with the disease."* Most of the reporters from Cheshire 

 send the greater proportion of their potato-crop to market before 

 the appearance of the disease. They generally concur in re- 

 porting that the disease was worse in 1872 than in 1871 ; but 

 less in 1873 than in either of the two previous years. There is 

 also further evidence that the disease made its appearance earlier 

 in 1872 than it usually does, and that in some years it is not 

 noticed until as late as the middle of September. 



Most of the growers prefer their late potatoes to remain in the 

 ground until they are well matured, and to harvest them in dry 

 weather, so as to diminish the chance of storing any that are 

 diseased. But Mr, J. Roberts, of Well House Farm, Saltness, 

 Cheshire, who likes to harvest as early as possible, states : — 



" Last year there was a trial of potato-diggers on the 8th and 9th of Sep- 

 tember. What potatoes were got on the 8th — a dry day — kept beautifully ; 

 what were got on the 9th — a wet day — nearly all spoiled, although the greatest 

 •attention possible was bestowed iipon them. 



" In very wet seasons when potatoes were going very badly with the dis- 

 ■case, I have left some dry sandy banks without getting in until Christmas. By ' 

 that time there would be about half a crop, perfectly healthy, and with no 



* Compare this statement with that on p. 485. 



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