128 CHAPTER VIII 



suitable, consequently those districts in high altitudes, of a 

 cool and moist climate, are fast becoming the leading potato 

 districts e.g., Thaba 'iS^chu and Bethal. The requirements 

 of climate are largely met by the time of planting, hence the 

 main crop in the Union is often planted in November or 

 December, so that the time of tuber development is towards 

 the cooler part of summer and in the autumn. The early 

 crop (grown only under irrigation) is planted in August and 

 lifted in November before the hotter summer weather 

 commences. 



Soil and Manorial Eequirements. 



Soil. — The ideal soil appears to be a well-drained, deep, 

 friable, rich loam, containing an abundant supply of well- 

 decayed organic matter. The crop requires a light, porous, 

 open soil, for the following reasons : — 



(1) The root system is weak and small compared with 

 that of a plant like maize, and is especially weak in penetrat- 

 ing heavy soils. 



(2) The crop is easier to plant, cultivate, and to dig. 



(3) The tubers develop more freely, are smoother and 

 more regular in shape. 



(4) Fertilisers and manures are more effective. 

 Eelatively heavy soils in which large quantities of organic 



matter have been incorporated , provided they are well drained . 

 may be, contrary to popular belief, very productive. 



Potatoes follow a green manure better than most crops, 

 and do well on virgin land, provided a fine seed-bed is pre- 

 pared. It is a crop well suited to follow on land after lucerne 

 is ploughed down. 



It is never a profitable crop on poor soils, as, being a 

 surface feeder and short-lived, it requires a soil in a high 

 state of productivity. 



On average farm soils the following manurial applications 

 have been found to give good results — viz., 10 to 12 tons 

 well-rotted kraal manure, and ;in addition 300 lbs. super- 

 phosphate or 400 lbs. bone dust ; the manure should be 

 ]->loughed under before planting and in sufficient time to ensure 

 thorough decomposition. The superphosphate, or bone dust, 

 should be applied in the rows at the time of planting. Where 

 no kraal manure is available, 200 lbs. guano, with 200 lbs. of 

 bone dust, and 100 lbs. of superphosphate, in all 500-600 lbs. 

 per acre, have given satisfactory results. 



