THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



In selecting potatoes from seed, the choice 

 should be from those hills which have produced 

 best, both as to size of tubers and the number of 

 tubers in a hill rather than from the finest potatoes, 

 both as to size and symmetry. In the former selec- 

 tion you get pedigree and precedent and may an- 

 ticipate a perpetuation of the good qualities in the 

 succeeding year's crop. All scabby or misshapen 

 tubers should be rejected, nor should seed be used 

 from a crop that has given scabby tubers, though 

 the tubers selected may be free from this defect. 

 Where scabby tubers exist, the cause should be dis- 

 tinctly recognised, whether the fault is in the seed, 

 in the soil, or in the presence of too green manure. 

 Potatoes should not be planted on land newly fer- 

 tilised with fresh manure. Where the land has had 

 many successive croppings and must be manured 

 heavily in order to restore sufficient fertility for 

 the production of a crop, the fertilising should be 

 done the preceding autumn, or, if that is impos- 

 sible, as early in the spring as possible February 

 being far better than March. Preferably the manur- 

 ing should precede fall ploughing. Sod land is best 

 for the growing of potatoes, and if this has been 



manured the previous fall, it should be in good con- 



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