27 



will be attended with great difficulties in bringing it 

 to a suitable tilth at the time the potatoes should be 

 planted, especially if the spring months should be 

 either excessively wet or unusually dry. If the crop 

 is fed on the land there is not much need of additional 

 manuring, particularly if the root crop was manured 

 with farmyard manure. If the land is in good condi- 

 tion manurially the application of a dressing ot 

 superphosphate of lime and kainit will be all that is 

 necessary. If manure is applied it is well that it 

 should be put on before the first ploughing if the crop 

 is to be planted on the Flat, but if it is to be put in on 

 the Ridge it is usual to leave it until the time of 

 planting. Artificial manures should be sown on the 

 furrow of the first ploughing, and they will then be 

 well mixed with the soil during the subsequent 

 workings. An exception to this must be made in the 

 case of highly concentrated nitrogenous manures, such 

 as nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia, which,, 

 owing to their solubility, are rapid in their action, and 

 are best applied after the plants are well above ground. 

 Many who practise the Ridge system prefer to sow 

 the artificials in the furrow at the time the dung is 

 applied. 



Preparation of Land under the Four-course 

 System. 



The potato is a deep-rooting plant, and as a large 

 quantity of earth is required to cover in the tubers 

 when they form, the soil should be worked to a depth 



