48 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



critical period is just when the tops are pushing through 

 the soil early in April, and to protect at that season we 

 have used straw-thatched hurdles, these being placed on 

 stakes supported with cross pieces of wood. I think 

 that dry bracken is the best protection, but it must be 

 cut green early in the autumn ; for, if allowed to ripen, 

 its protecting powers are reduced, it is brittle and 

 breaks very quickly. Cut green, it is light and warm, 

 and readily placed in position or removed. 



Potatoes forwarded thus will be ready for use in 

 May, and .are not so small as the first earlies in the 

 open. The labour of making up the bed is not lost. 

 As soon as the crop is cleared the space does grandly for 

 such crops as marrows, cucumbers, capsicums, or any 

 crop grown in a similar way, and the bed at the end of 

 the year is of. great value for potting-soil or as a dressing 

 for heavy land. A south border should be selected for 

 an early crop in the open, and if possible a light friable 

 soil well manured in the previous autumn. The sets 

 should have been well matured, and two feet between 

 the rows is a fair distance, nine inches being allowed 

 between the sets. We draw rather deep drills, and 

 these, when covering with soil, are not quite filled 

 up, so that in severe weather it is an easy matter to 

 place a little long litter over the sets, removing it 

 when it is warm or bright. A fair distance between 

 the sets is nine inches, but a great deal depends upon 

 the variety. The Ashleaf does well at this distance, 

 but strong growers benefit by more space. As re- 

 gards variety there is no lack. Such kinds as Ring- 

 leader, May Queen, and Ninetyfold are very fine for early 

 borders. The last is superb, and has a stronger haulm 

 than the Ashleaf. To these may be added English 

 Beauty, Early Puritan, when large quantities are re- 

 quired, and Sharpe's Victor for small borders. This has 

 a very dwarf top, and is one of the earliest. For field 



