127 



very light. After the crop appears above ground 

 cleaners of the type of the Era hoe and grubber can 

 be used with advantage, as the outer blades can be 

 set so as to lightly pare the ridges and destroy the 

 weeds Horse-hoeing, as carried out on the flat, cannot 

 be effected so readily, especially where farmyard dung 

 has been laid in the ridges. Hand-hoeing can be 

 done with much advantage on weedy land. When the 

 crop is cleaned, and the tops have reached sufficient 

 height, the earth should again be moulded up to the 

 ridges. 



The Lazy bed System. 



On the Lazybed system the crop should be kept 

 clean by hoeing, and fresh earth should be dug out of 

 the trenches and laid about the plants so as to co^er 

 in the young tubers. The spraying with a solution of 

 sulphate of copper and lime should be given once or 

 more during the growth of the crop ; but this matter 

 will be dealt with fully in the chapter devoted to 

 diseases of the crop. 



Destruction of Fruits or Apples. 



It has been recommended that the fruits or apples 

 should be prevented from forming, as the energies of 

 the plant are directed towards their formation at the 

 expense of the tubers. As, under natural circum- 

 stances, the first object of the plant is directed towards 

 the production of seed to ensure its reproduction, this 

 appears reasonable enough, but it is rarely attempted 

 in practice, and in those instances where it is done, 



