104 THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES 



crops are lifted. For a very comprehensive rule, it may be said that 

 the distance between the rows may vary from fifteen inches for the 

 early sorts of dwarf growth, to forty inches for the vigorous-growing 

 late sorts. Between these measurements we find a rule for medium 

 growers, for which, on good ground, a distance of twenty-six to thirty- 

 six inches is usually allowed. The distance between the sets must in 

 like manner be determined by the growth, and will range from six 

 inches for crops to be dug early, to sixteen or twenty inches for the 

 robust kinds. The medium main-crop Potatoes will generally do 

 well at twelve inches apart, and pay better than at nine inches. 

 Much, however, depends on the season, for when great space is 

 allowed, and the season proves warm and showery, there will be more 

 large tubers than the grower will care for ; whereas, if planted some- 

 what closer, the crop would be of smaller size and more uniform. 

 As to the depth, that is determined after planting. A good average 

 for the final depth is six inches, but another inch may be allowed on 

 light soil. 



The next point that claims attention is the time of planting. 

 There has been much debate as to the advisability of planting in 

 autumn, and a great deal might be said about it here. But we cannot 

 afford space to treat of speculative matters, and we need only say that 

 there is almost complete concurrence among practical men in favour 

 of spring planting, the months of February, March, and April being 

 the most suitable, and the month of March the best of any. Good 

 crops have been dug by us from plantings made on Midsummer 

 Day, but such late planting is not to be thought of, unless there 

 are some special reasons to justify it. Still, it is always well, in 

 practical matters, to know the limits of possibility ; and to put 

 the case very broadly, we may say that Potato planting may be 

 carried on as weather permits from the shortest day to the longest, 

 but for profitable work and average seasons, and the climates in which 

 the Potato usually prospers, the best time for planting is the month 

 of March. 



The planting being accomplished, the cultivation will begin. It is 

 too much the practice to regard the summer cultivation as a matter 

 of secondary importance. It must be admitted that every stage in the 

 cultivation of the Potato is costly, and the labour bill certainly does 

 run up. From one point of view that is a great argument in favour 

 of the Potato as a farm crop, for it makes labour at times when it 

 can be spared from other work, and beyond doubt, up to a certain 

 point, the money expended comes back with interest. As soon as 



