CHAP. Ill VILLA GARDENING 409 



When and How to Plant. — If the Potato were not so 

 susceptible to frost, the time and manner of planting would have 

 less importance. In the early border, where the soil is warm and 

 dry, the old Ashtop and Veitch's Ashtop may be planted about 

 the first week in February, or as early in the month as the weather 

 is suitable. On dry warm soils, as regards the early crop, I have 

 had a fair amount of success from planting in November, burying 

 the sets 6 inches deep. It simply amounts to this : I think there 

 is less waste going on when the tubers are in the ground than 

 when exposed to the air, even if the central eye is pushing steadily 

 onwards ; and as soon as the earth closes round them they begin 

 to make roots. Though they may not ajDpear above ground earlier 

 than if jDlanted in February, they have a greater hold of the 

 soil, and are consequently better prepared for any vicissitudes of 

 temperature, etc., which may assail them. As regards the general 

 crop, there are few places in such a favourable condition as the 

 early border for autumn planting, and it is only under favourable 

 circumstances that autumn jolanting will succeed. Besides, even 

 if such jjlanting were always a success, it is a question if it would 

 be always desirable. When the Potatoes are planted in spring the 

 early crops may be cleared off, and the land planted with some- 

 thing else in autumn ; but with autumn planting, instead of the 

 land being occupied some sLx months or so, at least nine months 

 would be taken uj) with the Potato crop, and the advantages in 

 favom* of autumn planting must be very marked before it will pay 

 to give up the land for so long a period. Except in the case of 

 the very early crop, March is the best month for planting. In 

 cold late districts the first half of April will be early enough to 

 plant the main crop. The best way to plant Potatoes is to draw 

 drills 4 inches deep, and lay the sets 12 inches apart along the 

 bottom, scattering the compost over them, and then covering them 

 with a hoe. The best implement for drawing drills is a long- 

 bladed hoe, fashioned like a carpenter's adze, and about the same 

 length in the blade. The easiest and quickest way to plant 

 Potatoes is to use the dibble ; but the plan has no other recom- 

 mendation, and it can only be employed when the land is in good 

 heart, and does not require mamuing. I have left the question of 

 the distance between the rows open, feeling that no hard or fast 

 line should be laid down ; but none of the main -crop Potatoes 

 should be less than 3 feet apart, and .such large-topped kinds as 

 Reading Hero should have 4 feet. 



Spring and Summer Culture. — When the tops of the 

 Potatoes make their appearance, take the fork and loosen up the soil 

 between the rows. This is specially necessary on heavy land : on light 



