POTATO DISEASE. 



380 



POTATOES, EARLY. 



ubers in the dressed section was much 

 greater than in the undressed sections. 

 The following directions are given by 

 Messrs. Carter & Co. for the preparation 

 and use of the " Bouillie Bordelaise." 



" Mix 8 Ib. of pure sulphate of copper 

 in about 3 gallons of hot water, and after 

 all is dissolved add 7 gallons of cold water. 

 In another vessel mix 15 Ib. of good 

 burnt unslaked lime with 3 gallons of water, 

 to be carefully stirred until all the lumps 

 disappear. This lime mixture is then to 

 be poured into and mixed with the dissolved 

 sulphate of copper, and the whole, when 

 cold, is then ready for use. 



" The mixture should be applied two or 

 three times in a season (i) when the tops 

 are about 3 inches high ; (2) when the tops 

 approach maturity ; (3) at the discretion 

 of the user, always bearing in mind that 

 an application should be made at the first 

 sign of the disease appearing in the foliage 

 of the potato. 



" The mixture may be applied by any 

 liquid distributor, or even with a syringe, 

 care being taken that the foliage is well 

 covered by it, and, if the above propor- 

 tions are carefully observed, we [Messrs. 

 James Carter & Co.] believe no risk of 

 damage to the crop need be feared, as the 

 lime, when incorporated with the dissolved 

 copper, destroys any injurious properties 

 the copper might otherwise possess. 



" The total average cost of the quantities 

 of copper and lime named above is about 

 35. 6d." 



The cost of the dressing, roughly 

 speaking, is i per acre. This area, on 

 an average, will produce 2 tons of potatoes, 

 which at present (1892) prices range from 

 j3 I os. to 4 per ton, so that it is clearly 

 worth while for potato growers to effect 

 what is practically an insurance, at a com- 

 paratively small cost, of a crop, which, but 

 for preventives against disease, must always 

 be precarious. 



Potatoes, Early, in Frames. 



When potatoes are grown in a frame, the 

 treatment is much the same as before ; but 

 some grow them very successfully in this 

 manner : The frame being placed on a 

 level piece of ground, the soil within is 

 dug out to the depth of 2 feet, and banked 

 round the outside of the frame. The pit 

 thus formed is then filled with prepared 

 dung ; on this 3 inches of soil is placed ; 

 then the potatoes, then 6 inches more soil. 

 The potatoes, when planted, should be 

 just starting into growth ; but the shoots 

 should never be more than half an inch 

 from the tuber, or they do not grow so 

 strong. It is advisable to pick off some of 

 the shoots ; three on each tuber is sufficient. 

 Potatoes may be forced under the stand in 

 a hothouse or greenhouse, the potatoes 

 being planted singly in large pots of very 

 light rich soil. Each pot ought to yield a 

 good dish. 



Potatoes, Early, in Melon Pits. 



For the purpose of growing very early 

 potatoes, nothing is more suitable than a 

 broad, roomy melon pit an excellent use 

 to make of it. The potatoes will be fit for 

 use about the time for planting out the 

 melons. About the beginning of January, 

 let some middling-sized tubers be laid in a 

 warm and moderately dry place, well 

 exposed to the light ; here they will make 

 short plump shoots by the time the bed is 

 ready. Prepare a quantity of dung suf- 

 ficient to make a bed 3 feet 6 inches in 

 depth. By the end of the month the bed 

 will be ready ; then lay on 3 inches of soil, 

 and place the potatoes 15 inches apart, 

 covering them with 6 inches more of soil. 

 Some seed of the scarlet short-top radish 

 may be scattered over the surface. As 

 these begin to grow, give abundance of 

 fresh air in mild weather, so that neither 

 potatoes nor radishes be drawn up ; and as 

 they come up, remove the radishes from 



