280 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



tied, and labelled on the field. In packing for market care 

 should be taken to see that the tubers are clean, sound, and 

 fairly even in size. When the size is very irregular it pays to 

 grade them into two samples. The Potatoes not sold directly 

 from the field are stored for disposal as opportunity and prices 

 dictate. The seed is sometimes put into a clamp, or it may be 

 stored in a dry cool shed, safe from frost. On some places 

 where sprouting is made a feature, the seed is placed directly 

 into sprouting trays on the field, and then needs no re-handling 

 after being carted to the store. 



The usual position for a Potato clamp is the headland of the 

 field in which the crop grew, providing there is a gate con- 

 veniently near and a good road leading from it ; such a position 

 saves a lot of unnecessary carting. The ground on which the 

 clamp is to stand should be, if possible, slightly higher than the 



Section of Potato Clamp. 



general level ; in no case should it be lower, as the Potatoes 

 must be kept dry, and the tendency should be for rain-water to 

 run away from and not towards the clamp. Before clamping, 

 the Potatoes must be fairly dry and all showing any trace of 

 disease carefully picked out ; when affected tubers are mixed 

 with sound ones the disease often spreads through the whole. 

 They are piled up in a long ridge-shaped heap, from 3ft. to 5ft. 

 wide at the base, according to the quantity to be stored, the 

 height being regulated by the width, as they are piled up as 

 high as they will lie. They are then covered with straw, 

 bracken, or other dry litter about Gin. deep, and over the straw 

 a Gin. covering of soil is put in a trim and regular ridge form, 

 the surface being made firm and smooth with the spade so that 



