Report on the Cultivation of Potatoes. 487 



and later varieties. The earthing or hilling is best done with a light one- 

 horse plough instead of a double-mould plough, particularly at the wider 

 width between the rows, and we find it best to hill up one side of the rows 

 first, and after a few days to hill up the other side : this gives time for any 

 haulm buried to rise again. 



*♦**»* 



" 22. We have found that guano, or dissolved bones and guano mixed with 

 peat-ashes or peat-charcoal, produces the soundest crops, applied in the follow- 

 ing manner : — The setts having been placed in the furrow, a man follows 

 with a seedlip full of the manure, and strews into the furrow by hand the 

 requisite quantity, say 4 cwt. Peruvian guano, or 6 cwt. of dissolved bones 

 and guano — mixed one-third guano, two-thirds bones — per acre ; the plough 

 following, buries the seed and manure in close contact. 



"23. We have never found the application of lime, sulphur, or other 

 materials diminish the tendency to disease in the tubers, but we did find in 

 the year 1860 and subsequent seasons that by growing a crop of turnips with 

 the potatoes the roots escaped disease entirely. With oiir Fluke potatoes, 

 which throw but little haulm, we were j^ear after year so troubled with weeds 

 after the haulm decayed that we were occasionally obliged to mow the weeds 

 before we could lift the tubers ; we therefore, thinking we could grow turnips 

 instead of weeds, sowed over the land previous to earthing the potatoes I2 lb» 

 of turnip seed per acre, consequently when the haulm died off the turnips grew 

 up and were never hoed, but gave excellent crops ; in the wet season of 1860 

 particularly, in which year we grew 28 tons per acre of turnips, pulled off for 

 cattle and market, before digging the potatoes, which were a full produce and 

 quite sound. 



" 24. We have never found pulling or cutting off the haulm answer, but 

 we have sometimes found advantage from a second earthing, which kills weeds 

 and buries the tubers deeper in the earth. 



" 25. We like all the late varieties to remain on the land to a late period, so 

 that diseased tubers may decay entirely, as they furnish manure for the 

 succeeding corn crop." 



Several growers in this district are of opinion that the earlier 

 planted potatoes are less liable to disease than those planted 

 later in the season. 



With regard to early or late harvesting, the practice of 

 Mr. Blundell is confirmed by the replies of all the growers from 

 this district, except the Rev. W. F. Radcljffe, of Okeford Fitz- 

 paine, Blandford, Dorset, who says : " Harvest as soon as the 

 skin adheres to the tuber ; never mind about the haulm being 

 dead." On the other hand, Mr. Elias Cuming, of Linscott, 

 Moretonhampstead, Devon, states : " The bulk of my potatoes 

 are never lifted until October, for if dug earlier there are many 

 tubers infected which show no signs of disease, and when caved 

 together are apt to infect the whole." This gentleman also 

 gives the following summary of his recent experience : — 



" In the very dry season of 1870 the potatoes of this district were scarcely 

 diseased at all. One field, which was a furze brake three years before, was 

 planted with Eussians and Leather Coats (after oats) the middle of April : the 

 produce was absolutely free from disease. 



" In 1872 my potatoes, which were planted in sunny dry fields, were very 



