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ground. When made deep below the surface, water 

 very often drains into the pit, causing injury to the 

 potatoes. It is also much more difficult to work the 

 potatoes out of pits, or to turn them when necessary. 

 A greater depth than eight inches below the surface 

 should not be allowed ; this much is permissible. As a 

 rule it is stated that the width at the bottom of a clamp 

 should not exceed three feet. With this we do not 

 agree, except in those cases where there is an excep- 

 tional amount of disease, or the potatoes are put 

 together in a specially wet condition, and then the 

 only risk is that of fermentation, which can be to a great 

 extent avoided by providing good ventilation. Our 

 own practice is to make the pits five feet broad at the 

 bottom, so as to allow an ordinary farm cart to be 

 backed up when being emptied. Having clamped 

 some thousands of tons under both systems, we are so 

 satisfied with the latter method that we never clamp 

 them on less than a five-feet bottom. If the bottom 

 of the pit is ploughed to the required depth, and the 

 earth is cast on one side, this can be used for covering 

 subsequently. A firm, level bottom should be made, so 

 that the potatoes may be shovelled up easily when 

 they are removed. The potatoes should be piled as 

 high as they will conveniently lie on the base, forming 

 a triangular section. Long potatoes, such as kidneys, 

 stand more vertically than do round varieties, but on a 

 five-feet base a ton weight will lie in a yard's length. 



A thick layer of straw should be placed over the pit. 

 Such a layer should be placed on it that when com- 



