The Culture of Vegetables 



is just emerging from the ground. A rough contrivance answers if 

 fairly weather-proof, and where old lights are available, or even 

 frames and mats, a little well-directed labour will accomplish the 

 rest. A suitable measurement for a frame is a width of six feet and 

 a length proportionate to the produce required. It may be two feet 

 high at the back, and fifteen inches in front, and must face the south 

 as nearly as possible. Whatever the soil may be, it will be advisable 

 not to plant in it, but to wheel in some light turfy or sandy soil, or a 

 mixture prepared for the purpose, and this must form a bed at least 

 nine inches deep. This may appear a great task, but it will not 

 deter the earnest cultivator, and it will bring its reward when the 

 crop is lifted. However, it scarcely needs to be said that Potatoes 

 planted in the open ground may have frames put over them, to help 

 them along in the early stages, and it will pay well in any garden to 

 have portable frames for the purpose. These frames can be used to 

 assist Cucumbers and Marrows when the Potatoes no longer need 

 protection, and they also serve to keep Celery and other crops going 

 during hard winter weather. 



The main crop, as the source of supply for fully nine months 

 out of twelve, deserves every attention. And this brings us to the 

 consideration of a few important matters. Potatoes are grown with 

 advantage on so many diverse soils, and in such unlikely climates, 

 that the plant appears, on a casual consideration, to be altogether 

 indifferent to conditions. It is an immense advantage that it has 

 this universal character, for even in Iceland, where the brief cold 

 summer barely affords grass for the stunted cattle, the people 

 occasionally secure useful crops of Potatoes. But the truth must be 

 told that for the profitable cultivation of this crop certain conditions 

 are absolutely essential. Amongst these an open situation and a 

 well-drained soil are perhaps the most important. To this might be 

 added favourable weather, because a bad season frustrates every hope 

 and labour. But on this point the less said the better, seeing that 

 we must take the weather as it comes, knowing that good cultivation 

 will in a great degree mitigate the effects of unfavourable atmospheric 

 conditions. Having an open situation and a well-drained soil, it is 

 much to be preferred that the soil be of a deep, friable, loamy nature ; 

 in other words, a good medium soil, suitable for deep tillage, but 

 neither a decided clay, chalk nor sand. A fertile sandy loam, lying 

 well as regards sunshine and drainage, may generally be considered 

 a first-rate Potato soil, and none can say it is not so until experi- 

 ence has supplied the proof. The comparative indifference of the 



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