34 THE POTATO. 



leather-jacket grubs; and hence it is needful to take pre- 

 cautionary measures against injury by such pests before 

 planting the potatoes. Where expense is a secondary con- 

 sideration, it is undoubtedly a good plan to pare and burn 

 the turf before ploughing. The paring should be done to 

 the depth of almost three inches. Start a fire with straw, 

 sticks, and other dry rubbish, then add some of the driest 

 of the turves, and when the fire has got a good hold keep 

 adding turves until the whole are charred. Several fires 

 may be formed thus. The burning converts the vegetable 

 matter into valuable plant foods, and destroys injurious 

 grubs. The ashes should be spread evenly over the land. 

 The cost of paring will amount to about 1 per acre, the 

 burning to 1 5s. or 1 10s. per acre, and the distribu- 

 tion of the ashes to 5s. per acre, or a total of 2 10s. to 

 2 15s. per acre. 



Where this cannot be done on the score of expense, then 

 apply quicklime, at the rate of ten tons per acre, before 

 breaking up the pasture. Gas-lime may be used instead, 

 at the rate of ten cwt. per acre, if the ploughing be done in 

 autumn. Some growers have used salt at the rate of ten 

 cwt. per acre before ploughing in autumn, and found this 

 an excellent preventive against wireworm attack. In 

 breaking up the pasture, it is advisable to follow the ordi- 

 nary plough with a subsoiling plough, in order to get a 

 good depth of workable soil. 



Best Soils for Early Crops. It is important to 

 bear in mind the fact that light-coloured soils are colder 

 than darker ones. The former reflect the sun's rays, 

 whereas the latter absorb them. Soils, therefore, that 

 overlie chalk or limestone are apt to be light-coloured and 

 less warm than dark soils heavily charged with humus, tho 

 result of many years of manuring. The latter type of soils 

 is best for early crops ; that is, if well drained and free from 

 stagnant water. They are warmer and in other respects- 

 better suited for promoting that genial growth which is 

 so essential in the case of early crops. 



