POTATOES 113 



bracken or straw and pack them carefully in this, 

 previously dusting lightly with lime. Another way is 

 to arrange them on the floor of a dry frost-proof shed, 

 covering them with sacking ; but the most satisfactory 

 method is to make them into a clamp. 



To construct a clamp, a dry sheltered spot in the open 

 is chosen. The spot is strewn with small cinders to the 

 depth of an inch and these are covered with a layer of 

 straw. Upon this the potatoes are arranged in a heap, 

 shaped as shown in Fig. 8, Plate 9. When the potatoes 

 are in position a five-inch covering of straw is placed 

 around them which, in turn, is enveloped in a five-inch 

 layer of earth. All along the edge of the clamp a trench 

 must be dug for drainage purposes, and two or more 

 ventilating shafts may well be provided by building up 

 the tubers and piling the earth around chimneys made of 

 tight bundles of straw. Guard against frost and over 

 heating ; also take care that no damage, diseased, or 

 damp specimens are assembled in the mound. Of course, 

 it will be highly unwise to erect such a store on an allot- 

 ment to which the public have easy access. 



Diseases. The potato is heir to almost as many 

 diseases as afflict mankind, but the most deadly of all is 

 that which is popularly called Blight. The appearance 

 of this ailment is too well known to need more than a 

 brief description. Dark brown spots appear on the leaves 

 or stalks and spread with incredible rapidity. If the 

 weather be wet these spots are extended until almost the 

 whole of the foliage collapses and blackens. If the 

 under surface of a spot be examined a delicate white 

 mould may be seen (especially around the margin). This 

 mould consists of the spore-bearing filaments of a fungus 



