872 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



potatoes, even when one has planted what are to all outward 

 appearance ideally shaped and satisfactory tubers. 



These methods of preparing seed potatoes are strongly ad- 

 vocated, whether the crop to be grown be early or late, but they 

 are especially desirable in the case of early varieties, since they 

 enable the grower to ensure that his sets shall make a good start 

 into growth even before he commits them to the ground. 



While the " sprouting " is in progress the ground should be 

 prepared. If there be an available piece in a warm, sheltered, 

 sunny position that was thoroughly well dug and manured in the 

 autumn so much the better, but if not, it should be put into proper 

 condition to receive the tubers without a moment's delay. If 

 frost comes after the digging so much the better, it will pulverise 

 the soil and will enable the grower to fine it down with a Dutch 

 hoe preparatory to planting. 



By far the best method of planting and this should be done 

 towards the end of February hi the case of early varieties is that 

 of placing the tubers one foot apart in trenches five or six inches 

 in depth. This is far preferable to the plan of using a dibbler 

 and then thrusting the tuber into the cavity in the hope, but not 

 the certainty, that it will rest firmly on the bottom of the hole. 

 The tubers should be taken direct from the trays one at a time, 

 exercising such care that the tender shoots are not damaged in the 

 process. When a row has been planted the soil must be drawn 

 carefully over the tubers and levelled down. 



There need be no fear of damage by frost until the green shoots 

 appear above the ground. Henceforth a close watch must be 

 kept on atmospheric conditions, and at the first sign of the ap- 

 proach of frost the rows must be earthed up in ridges. This is 

 best done with the hoe, and the operation will require to be repeated 

 so long as the danger of frost exists. 



There is the more need for these precautions because early 

 potatoes are much more liable to be affected by cold winds and 

 late frosts than are the main crop and late varieties. The effects 

 of the blackening of the haulm by frost are bound to be serious. 

 A severe check, which will undoubtedly have a deleterious 



