77 o ADDENDUM 



holes made with a hoe or " setter " some 4 to 5 in. in depth, with 

 a distance of 12 to 18 in. between the " sets " according to their 

 season of use or when the crop matures, and the vigour of growth 

 of the varieties grown. Entire tubers of medium size are the best 

 for planting, and they should in all cases, especially so in regard to 

 early and second early varieties, be exposed some time beforehand 

 to the influence of light and air, so that, at planting time, they will 

 have green sturdy shoots on them from I j to 2 in. in length. In 

 this case care must be taken when planting not to break off the 

 shoots. The object in planting these sprouted tubers is not only 

 to gain time in regard to growth, but to secure greater uniformity 

 and vigour, while gaps or losses in the rows arising from tubers 

 failing to grow is obviated, and last, but by no means least, the 

 maturation of the crops is, to a great extent, accelerated. The 

 tubers should be covered at the time of planting with from 4 to 5 in. 

 of soil, and the general practice is to keep the soil between the rows 

 well hoed, and to earth up as soon as the stems have grown to a 

 height of 6 or 8 in. Earthing-up is very essential, as it has the 

 advantage of not only causing the tubers to lie more closely 

 together round the roots of the plants, but prevents those which 

 lie uppermost or nearest the surface from becoming exposed, while 

 the crop is the more easily lifted. Potatoes ripen, or at least 

 become fit for use, early in June to the end of October, according 

 to the varieties grown. They may be forced under glass or in 

 frames on mild hotbeds. In the former case large pots or boxes 

 of suitable depth may be utilised for the purpose. Forcing may 

 be commenced in December or January, and continued up to the 

 middle of March. The crop will be ready for lifting in from two 

 to three months after planting, less time being required as the 

 season advances between the time of planting and when the tubers 

 will have become large enough for use. 



SELECT LIST OF VARIETIES 

 First Earlies 



Epicure. White, round, heavy cropper of gopd quality. 



Eclipse. White Kidney, a heavy cropper, of fair quality. 



Early Favourite. White round, good cropper, said to be of 

 good quality. 



Duke of York. White Kidney, medium cropper, quality first- 

 rate ; excellent for frame and pot culture. 



May Queen. White Kidney, good cropper, quality excellent. 

 Good for forcing. 



Sir John Llewelyn. White Kidney, good cropper, of excellent 

 quality. 



Midlothian Early. White, pebble-shaped, fair cropper, quality 

 good. 



