CULTURE FOR EXHIBITION. 101 



Lifting: the Tubers. Immediately the tubers have 

 practically completed their growth, nc time should be lost 

 in taking them up, or, in all probability, the dreaded 

 disease will put in its appearance, and a large percentage 

 of the crop will become affected and spoilt, which other- 

 wise, by timely lifting, might have been saved. Cut off 

 the whole of the tops close to the ground with a pair of 

 hedge shears, and have everything in readiness. Proceed 

 to dig them with a potato fork, choosing fine weather for 

 the purpose. Every care should be taken not to damage 

 the tubers, and all the most promising should be selected 

 and placed in suitable boxes, covering them as speedily as 

 possible with some of the finely-sifted soil in which they 

 have been growing. 



Preserving the Tubers for Show. It is of the 

 utmost importance that both light and air be kept from 

 the tubers. One layer only should be placed in a box, 

 and the boxes stored away till required in a dark room or 

 cellar. Some exhibitors wash and wrap the tubers in paper, 

 covering them with fine sand until wanted, but we much 

 prefer deferring this till the last moment, otherwise much 

 of the fresh appearance will have left them. There are 

 many methods adopted by way of washing and cleaning, 

 but, after repeated experiments, we know of none better 

 than placing them for about twenty minutes in a vessel 

 of cold, soft water, after which thoroughly rub them as 

 hard as the skin will allow without damaging with a very 

 soft brush or a piece of sponge, and a lather of Sunlight 

 soap. Thoroughly rinse the tubers in clear water, allow 

 them to dry in a dark place, wrap up in soft tissue paper, 

 and pack carefully. The required number of tubers should 

 be as nearly alike as possible, free from all blemishes, and 

 of medium size. Generally speaking, in my opinion, pota- 

 toes are shown much too large, and we hope the day is 

 not far distant when this will be rectified. We know of 

 no place where potatoes are better shown than in Scot- 

 land, and there is not the slightest doubt but what they 

 set the southern growers a good example in this respect. 



