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SECTION III. 

 PLANTING. 



The planting of potatoes is effected in many ways. 

 Of recent years machines have been introduced to place 

 the potatoes in the required position, and some of these 

 are of sufficient merit to be considered labour-saving 

 machines. One of the chief points against their more 

 rapid spread has doubtless been the initial cost of pur- 

 chase, but, where potatoes are planted on a large scale, 

 the expense of planting is lessened by their use. At 

 present, at any rate, the majority of potatoes are 

 planted by hand. 



Conditions favourable for different Systems of 

 Planting. 



The three systems of planting which embrace in 

 various forms the methods of planting are the Ridge, 

 Flat, and Lazybed. The Ridge is in greatest favour 

 in those districts where the rainfall is above 27 inches 

 annually, while the Flat is most commonly adopted 

 where the rainfall particularly if the summer rainfall 

 is light is below 27 inches. The Ridge system has a 

 tendency to divert the water from the ridges, and so 

 keep the land immediately around the plants in a dry 

 condition ; whereas, on porous soils situated in dry 



