Potatoes. 281 



rain will run off. Soil for covering is taken from the ground 

 outside the clamp, and in the operation a trench is cut all round 

 to carry away water and so keep the contents dry. After the 

 clamp is covered with earth, ventilating holes are cut through 

 along the top of the ridge, about 6ft. apart, and a tuft of 

 straw is pulled through each hole and allowed to project, or a 

 drain-pipe is inserted. In case of a spell of severe weather the 

 ventilating holes should be closed to keep out frost, and as an 

 additional safeguard when frost is very severe, it is advisable 

 to put a covering of straw or litter over the clamp. 



About the beginning of February, or earlier if there was 

 much disease present when the crop was lifted, the clamp 

 should be opened and the Potatoes examined. It will often 

 be found that many are infected and that most have begun 

 to make shoots. They are shovelled into a riddle, where they 

 are turned over by hand and carefully examined ; the shoots are 

 rubbed off and the tubers showing disease are thrown out. If 

 they are to be kept for a further period the clamp is re-made 

 on the same site, gradually working through the old clamp and 

 making a new one as the work proceeds. This opportunity is 

 usually taken to send a portion of the stock to market. When 

 the Potatoes were put into clamp without being properly 

 graded, they are now sorted into different grades and clamped 

 separately. The sorting is done either by passing them over 

 hand riddles, each with a different sized mesh, or by employing 

 a more elaborate device known as a Potato sorter, of which 

 there are numerous variations in use. The shovel used is one 

 fronted with a steel tip and backed with bars about lin. apart, 

 through which the dirt will fall. 



Where there is enough room in good dry buildings, these 

 may be used for storing the Potatoes in, instead of clamping, 

 as the labour is less and they can be more conveniently got at 

 in any condition of the weather. A good thickness of straw or 

 litter should be put between the Potatoes and the outside walls 

 and they should be well covered over the top to protect them 

 from frost and to exclude light. 



Manures : Much has been said and written at different 

 times against applying manure directly to Potatoes, under the 

 impression that it induces disease, but since it has been proved 



