86 AUSTRALIAN AGRICULTURE. 



crop is available for use ; the vines or tops being very 

 valuable feed for dairy stock, for working cattle, pigs, 

 sheep, and horses. Four named varieties are grown the 

 white, a long almost cylindrical root that grows in bunches 

 from the main plant only (this sort is mealy and rich, and 

 not very sweet) ; the large red, a globular-shaped sort, with 

 long trailing vines, a rather watery potato ; the small red, 

 which forms bunches of small potatoes wherever the vines 

 touch a spot of unoccupied ground (an excellent variety 

 for stock-feeding purposes ; it is an enormous bearer) ; 

 and the " Maltese," with a serated leaf, the vines 

 springing in bunches instead of singly from the 

 main root, as in other varieties (the roots of this 

 sort are mealy, firm, and very rich). All the varieties are 

 planted and cultivated alike. Two methods are followed 

 for raising plants : the first is by planting potatoes in rich, 

 loamy soil over a hotbed, and is peculiarly suitable for 

 colder locations and where it is necessary to carry the seed 

 long distances. Put in the seed potatoes as soon as the 

 cold weather is over say in August. The vines come up 

 in bunches, which, when about six inches long, can with ease 

 be drawn out from the parent potato and set out. The 

 other method of obtaining plants, and the best for warm 

 districts, for it gives by far the hardiest vines, is to leave a 

 few rows of the old potatoes, vines and all, in and on the 

 ground. These, when covered up from cold and risk of 

 injury, commence to shoot as soon as the weather gets 

 warm. A sprinkle of weak, liquid manure helps them on. 

 As the vines run out and show white points, or "root pens" 

 at the joints, they are cut off in eight or ten inch lengths, 

 and planted out at once. Plants of this kind very seldom 

 fail ; but if they or the drawn plants are to be sent to a 

 distance, they ought to be packed in small bundles, wrapped 

 up snugly in paper. The soil for sweet potatoes need not 

 be very rich, but it should be worked as deep and fine as 

 possible, and then laid up in ridges about three feet 

 apart. Flatten off the tops of the ridges, and insert the 

 cuttings or sets about a foot apart. Make holes about 

 three inches deep with the hand, a piece of wood, or garden 

 trowel Lay in the sets nearly flat, leaving about one-third 



