Report on the Cultivation of Potatoes. 493 



tben after hai-vesfc ploughed as deep as possible -^vitli three horses, and left 

 winter-ridged, the same as broken-up seeds." 



Mr. J. G. Hobson, of Curlew Lodge, Long Sutton, thus 

 describes his method of cultivating the land for potatoes, before 

 and after the time of planting : — 



" Plough in a good dressing of long manure before Christmas ; cross-plough 

 as early as the condition of the soil will admit, and if the land is dry enough 

 to bear the horses in March or early in April, cultivate to a good mould, 

 ridge for planting, applying artificial manure, which should be sown by hand 

 down the ridges before closing. 



" Afterwards cultivate freely by hand, and horse-hoe as soon as the lines of 

 potatoes are safely discernible, and continue to move the soil repeatedly 

 throughoi;t the summer. Mould up lightly with the open-breasted plough 

 when the stems need support and the young potatoes need protection ; then 

 subsoil with chisel-pointed cultivator, so as to cut up the soil in detail rather 

 than in large rough slices. As the plant needs still further moulding, hill 

 up lightly, leaving a sharp angle close to the stems, to throw off the wet. 

 Lastly, nm the mole subsoiler between each row% the ground being all along 

 thoroughly clear of weeds." 



The preponderance of opinion is in favour of large-sized setts, 

 and on this point Mr. Hobson observes : — 



" Large-sized cut setts iTsually bring the heaviest crop of marketable potatoes-. 

 Large-sized whole potatoes 1 have found to produce a large number of small 

 potatoes ; small seed sometimes a fair crop, but usually of small potatoes." 



On the other hand, Mr. G. Moon gives his experience as fol- 

 lows : — 



" I have always planted small-sized setts, excepting one year I had some- 

 Flukes I could not sell, as they turned black-ended in the spring. They 

 were very large, and took something like 16 sacks to the acre ; but my jiro- 

 duce was no better than my neighbours, who planted the usual seed." 



With regard to the effect of different systems of management' 

 in preventing or arresting the spread of the potato-disease,, 

 Mr. Moon states : — 



" I have found that Avhen the manure has been ploughed in in the winter, and 

 the land has been deeply ploughed, I have had most sound potatoes. Again, 

 I find where the land has been growing potatoes very often, there is more 

 blight. I think when the air is charged with electricity, and accompanied 

 with thunderstoiTus, the potato top appears to inhale something which causes • 

 the disease; but you will sometimes find when the tops are struck with 

 disease, that should the weather come fine, clear, and cold, it stops the pro- 

 gress, and the tubers take little harm. 



" With respect to cutting off the tops in a 6-acre field this season, on the 

 ■ first appearance of the disease, I cut olf half the field and left the stumps of 

 the haulm standing. Where this was done, I had more had potatoes, 



" I also pulled the tops in another field, and left others standing with them 

 on ; and where the tops were left and allowed to die of themselves, I had 

 more potatoes. For example, I pulled 12 roots, and left 12 roots with tops 

 on ; the former had 14 lbs. sound potatoes and i lb. bad, the latter had 15 lbs.. 

 sound and 1^ lb. bad, showing, commercially speaking, I was a great loser," 



