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AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTUBB. 



12 to 15 tons per acre are not uncommon in favourite 

 localities. The quality is very superior. The varieties grown 

 are pink eyes, Brown's River, fluke k idney s, Warrnambools, 

 regents, cups, ash-leaf kidneys, Circular Heads, &c., &c. 

 Many other sorts are described, possibly too many. Care 

 is necessary in experimenting with them. In the warmer 

 districts, the potato is also a favourite, but it is a much 

 more uncertain crop ; the weight per acre seldom exceeds 

 six tons, and it is found necessary to change the seed every 

 other season, in some places every season, drawing the 

 supplies of seed from Tasmania and the other southern 

 colonies. Several new varieties Early Rose, Brownell's 

 Beauty, Snowflake, Ash-leaf, Manhattan, Webster's best, 

 Smith's early, Somner's hundredfold, and others have been 

 tried; but with the exception of Brownell's Beauty and 

 Early Rose, growers have had to fall back upon seed from 

 the cooler latitudes. 



Planting Seasons. There are two decided planting 

 seasons for the potato in Australia ; in the cooler districts. 

 June and July are chosen for the tirst crop, August and 

 September for the latter crop. In the wanner districts, 

 February and March are chosen for a winter crop, July, 

 August, and September for a summer crop. In close, moist 

 situations, a crop is grown during summer, by planting at 

 Christmas time. In other places wet weather is chosen 

 for planting at any season. In other respects, the culti- 

 vation suitable to the potato in other countries answers 

 here. 



Preparing the Seed. Either whole potatoes, uncut, or 

 cut, may be used for seed. The illustration (B) shows how 

 three cuts, or more, may be made from a well-matured 

 potato of medium size. Large tubers are not so reliable for 

 seed. After being cut, the seed can be started into growth 

 by placing them in layers in a box (A), surrounded by dry 

 wood ashes. Two or more layers may be arranged in this 

 way in each box, while the land is being prepared and 

 manured. The seed takes from ten to twenty days before 

 growth starts. They can then be set out in rows from 

 twenty-four to thirty inches apart, and the seed from eight 

 to twelve inches apart in the rows. The advantages of 



