272 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



to the production of very early supplies, sprouted seed is 

 planted in rows about 18in. apart by 9in. to 1ft. apart in the 

 rows, but this is exceptionally close and only suited to short- 

 topped varieties which are to be lifted before the tubers are 

 fully grown. As a general rule first earlies should be 1ft. 9in. 

 to 2ft. by 9in. to 12in. apart, second earlies 2ft. 3m. to 2ft. 6in. 

 by 12in. to 16in. apart, and main-crop and late varieties from 

 2ft. Gin. to 3ft. by 14in. to 18in. apart. In no case ought the 

 sets to be covered with more than 4in. of soil (apart from that 

 which is added in earthing-up) and for early sorts about 

 3m. is sufficient, because then the roots are more under the 

 influence of the sun's warmth. The distance between the sets 

 is a matter of great importance, for if the crop is ^overcrowded 

 the majority of the tubers will be small, whilst on the other hand 

 if the spaces are wider than necessary the total crop will be 

 less than it might have been. The ruling principle should be 

 to allow every plant ample room to spread, with a sufficiency 

 of air and sunshine. With overcrowding, the haulm grows into 

 a tangled mass and being weakly from want of air is weighed 

 down to the earth in heavy rains. There is thus a constantly 

 damp and stagnant atmosphere below the surface of the 

 foliage, in which fungoid disease finds congenial surroundings 

 and soon runs rampant. It is always safer to allow too much 

 rather than too little space, and the rows should run north and 

 south, so that the sun can have full effect on both sides of the 

 rows, in warming the soil, drying and strengthening the foliage, 

 and invigorating the whole plant, keeping it more resistant to 

 disease, and thus making a large contribution towards a heavy 

 crop of sound tubers. It is no exaggeration to say that, other 

 conditions being satisfactory, the abundance and healthiness of 

 the Potato crop is, in the climate of the British Isles, dependent 

 upon the amount of direct sunlight each plant receives. 



Planting and General Culture. The time of planting varies 

 with the district and the condition of the soil. In favoured 

 places with a kindly soil planting is commenced in the middle 

 of March, whilst in others, when the circumstances have been 

 unfavourable, it is often deferred until as late as the middle of 

 May. All things considered, for ordinary culture the first week 

 in April is quite soon enough, and a week or two later than 



