522 THE farmers' handbook. 



For raising early plants, a cold frame, covered with a sash of glass (.see 

 Fig. 2) has given the most satisfactory results. Where glass is not avail- 

 able, hessian or bagging may be used to retain heat and keep off frosts (see 

 Fig. 3) ; it gives good results, but in the end is more expensive as it 

 requires renewing each year, whilst glass, with care, lasts indefinitely. One 

 or two tubers, bedded in a small box or kerosene tin, if placed in a sunny 

 situation, and covered at night, will supply sufficient plants for a kitchen 

 garden . 



In mild districts, plants quite early enough for a main crop can be 

 obtained by bedding the tubers in the open ground in a sheltered situation 

 with an easterly aspect, or cuttings 6 or 8 inches long may be made from 

 the vines of the early-planted crop and set out in the same way as the plant3 

 obtained by bedding. These cuttings will grow quite readily. The crop 

 produced by planting them seems to keep better than the early crop. Small 

 tubers are the best for producing plants ; 1 cwt. will produce at one 

 "pulling" 4,000 to 5,000 plants, and will occupy 90 to 100 superficial feet 

 in the cold frames. 



Raising tubers specially for Bedding Purposes. 



Though small tubers are the best to use for bedding-out, it is poor policy 

 to use the small ones or culls from the main crop for this purpose. Prof. 

 Massey, of the North Carolina Experiment Station, some years ago advo- 

 cated the growing of a crop of small tubers specially for bedding purposes. 

 This plan has been adopted at Hawkesbury Agricultural College with very 

 satisfactory results. The method recommended by Prof. Massey is as 

 follows : — 



Cuttings 12 to 15 inches long are taken from the growing vine, and after 

 being rolled around the hand are planted in the usual way, with just the 

 tip showing. At the College this planting is done about the middle of 

 January. Almost every joint of the buried vine produces a cluster of 

 potatoes. The result is a large number of small tubers, the best of which 

 are selected and are just the right size for bedding. 



Planting Out. 



The planting is commenced at any time when all danger of frost is past. 

 It can be continued in the coastal districts right up to the beginning of 

 January with every hope of a good crop. 



The shoots or plants 6 or 8 inches long are carefully drawn from the bed, 

 and are set root downwards in a bucket of water or a mixture of cow-dung 

 and water. They are then taken to where they are to be grown. They are 

 drawn from the bucket as required, and placed, with the roots dripping, 

 2 feet apart in rows which are 3 feet apart. 



The plants may be ploughed in at the time the ground is getting its second 

 or final ploughing. Wben this method is adopted, the plants are placed the 

 required distance apart in every third or fourth furrow, the necessary 

 covering being given by the plough as it turns the succeeding furrow. (See 

 Fig. 4.) 



A common plan is to thoroughly prepare the ground first and then dibble 

 the plants in with a spade (see Fig. 5). This method is somewhat slower 

 than ploughing in, but for ordinary conditions it has been proved the most 

 satisfactory. A man and a boy can plant with a spade 3,500 plants in eight 

 hours. 



