Potato 



( 2,28 ) 



Potato 



Principal Species : 



fotmosa, 12', Jy., wh. longiflora, 6', Jy,, wh. 



fragrautissima, 10', Jy., macropus, 6', sum., wh. 



wh. multiflora (now Kaudia 



latifolia, 6', aut., wh. longiflora). 



(syn. macrophylla). 



POTATO. 



Description. This is the most important of all 

 vegetable crops, and the probabilities all point in 

 the direction of enhanced value in the future, when 

 the tuber becomes more recognised as a medium 

 from which commodities of commercial value may 

 be manufactured. The Potato is the one vegetable 

 of the many grown in British gardens that can be 

 utilised for at least one meal every day in the year, 

 and it should, therefore, in the small garden 

 particularly, have a very conspicuous place. It is 

 not possible to say exactly how much ground 

 should be devoted to Potato culture, as tastes and 

 requirements differ, but the cottager should have 



addition of fresh, wet manure to the ground for 

 Potatoes is an. error, as it encourages a luxuriant 

 growth, which is very liable to take the disease. 

 When land is in good . cultivation, thorough 

 mechanical working will set free sufficient food 

 for the development of a satisfactory crop ; but if 

 known to be slightly deficient, it is well to make 

 up with chemical or artificial foods rather than 

 stable manure. If, however, the land is lacking in 

 humus, short, decomposed, natural manure should 

 be thoroughly incorporated in working, and good 

 results will accrue. In making up mixtures of 

 chemical manures consideration should be given 

 to the nature oE the soil> but the following will 

 be found of value : 



For heavy soils in fairly yood condition : 



3 parts superphosphate of) 



lime-. I 3 oz. to 1 yard of 



1 part kainit. V drill at plant- 



1 part nitrate of soda. ing time. 



1 part bone flour. 



POTATO WIXDSOK CASTLE (see p. 229). 



at least one^third of the garden under Potatoes. 

 In large gardens where choice vegetables are in 

 constant demand, the main crop Potatoes should 

 be grown outside the walls, only the early varieties 

 finding a place under the better conditions that 

 prevail in the garden proper. 



History. The introduction of the Potato is 

 usually credited to Sir Walter Raleigh, but 

 authority confers the honour upon a Mr. Herriot. 

 The great herbalist Gerarde, whose garden was on 

 the Thames side, probably near to the site occu- 

 pied by Somerset House, grew what he termed 

 the " Potatoe of Virginia," and figured it in his 

 " Herbal " in 1597. Neither then nor for a period 

 of nearly 200 years was the Potato recognised as 

 a valuable food product. During the ceptury just 

 closed great efforts were made to improve the 

 cropping properties and the quality, while, since 

 the initial visitation of the murrain, raisers have 

 endeavoured, and with some success, to add disease- 

 resisting powers. Solatium tuberosutu has played 

 by far the most important part in the progress of 

 the Potato. It was thought that S. Maglia would 

 prove disease resisting, but such was not the case. 



Preparing Ground. Generally speaking, the 



For light soils in poor condition : 



3 parts superphosphate of) 4 oz to x ynrd 



h . m< T . ., C of drill at piant- 



2 parts kainit. C in , T time 



2 parts nitrate of soda. ) 



In each case 1 oz. of nitrate of soda may be 

 applied, just after the first earthing, to each 

 1 yard run of row ; it should not be put on the 

 plants. For land under plough culture, a com- 

 bination of natural and artilicial manures is best. 

 To each ton of farmyard manure add 14 Ib. guano 

 and 7 Ib. kainit. The manure should be spread out 

 thinly, and have the guano and kainit distributed 

 over the surface. The mass should then be made 

 into a heap, and be turned twice or thrice prior 

 to use. 



Planting. This can be done in drills of varying 

 depth, or in holes made with a Potato dibber. The 

 former plan is the better. The drills should be 

 drawn for the early varieties 5" or 0" in depth, and 

 for second early and main crop sorts 3". For the 

 Ashleafs, and other small growers, the drills should 

 be 20" apart and the sets 12" asunder in the rows ; 

 for varieties with medium tops the drills should be 



