Potato 



( 229 ) 



Potato 



30" and the sets lf>" apart, and for very strong 

 growers t lie distances ought to be 36" and 18" respec- 

 tively. These measurements are the minimum for 

 each section, and may be increased at discretion. 

 The more room that is accorded the better, though 

 not necessarily the heavier the crop. The fact that 

 the plants have sufficient space to build up stems, 

 leafstalks, and leaves that are perfect in all their 

 parts, means that the tuber growth will be of 

 ciinvsponding excellence. The tubers are simply 

 swollen, underground stems whose value lies in the 

 March that is manufactured by the perfect leaves. 

 Sunn- growers of Potatoes, especially for exhibition, 

 almost double the spaces suggested above, but the 

 system would be extravagant for tubers for table 

 usr. where great size is a disadvantage. 



Earthing. This is a very important operation, 

 whether early or main crop Potatoes are under 

 treatment. In the former case the earth should be 

 drawn up to the rows with the first indications of 

 the plants above ground, or the tops may be cut 

 down by frosts. With the main crop varieties care 

 should be taken that the ridge shall not be trough 

 shaped at the top, or it will gather moisture and 

 materially assist the spread of the disease. A few 

 da\s prior to earthing, the ground should be well 

 hoed, to destroy weeds and bring the soil into 

 better condition for drawing up to the plants when 

 necessary. 



Times of Planting. The earliest may be planted 

 in .March, but a warm, sheltered border should bo 

 chosen, or the plants will almost certainly be 

 injured by frost. Some long, loose litter should be 

 at hand for scattering over the plants when frosts 

 are imminent. For the open quarters, from the 

 middle of April to the end of the first week in 

 May will be found the best time. 



Storing Potatoes. The main crop and late 

 varieties are utilised for storing, for which purpose 

 the tubers must be thoroughly ripened and free 

 from disease. Any dark, frost-proof place is 

 suitable. They may be stored in "pies'' sunk in 

 the ground, or in clamps raised above the surface, 

 lining and covering with straw in each case, and 

 leaving ventilators at the top for the escape of the 

 warm moisture which will be generated. It is 

 desirable that examinations be made at intervals 

 to ascertain that disease is not present, and to 

 remove any sprouts or shoots. 



Potatoes in Pots and Frames. The earliest 

 Potatoes are those from pots, 10" or 12" being 

 useful sizes. Prepared sets having one or two 

 strong sprouts are used, and the pots are barely 

 half tilled with light, rich soil. Two sets are re- 

 quired for each pot, and these maybe just covered. 

 Start in a warm temperature, removing later to less 

 heat and an abundance of light, finishing in a, 

 greenhouse. Care must be exercised in watering. 

 Sharpe's Victor will be found an excellent variety 

 for this purpose, as well as for frame culture. In 

 this method the frames are placed on beds of 

 leaves and manure, the latter somewhat spent for 

 preference. The bed must not be soiled until it 

 has reached the maximum heating point and is 

 declining. Sufficient head room should be allowed, 

 a-s the foliage should never touch the glass, and 

 material should be at command for covering during 

 severe weather. 



Potatoes for Seed. Tlie sets for planting may 

 be cut or uncut, prepared or unprepared, according 

 to the choice of the grower. Whole sets (save for 

 a slice taken off to hasten decay when the set has 



done its work) weighing from 2 oz. to 3 oz. give 

 good results. For strong-growing sorts like Up- 

 to-Date, the sets should not weigh more than 

 2J oz., or there may result a preponderance of 

 coarse, ungainly tubers. If the sets are too large 

 for planting they should be cut from top to bottom, 

 so as to ensure having good buds or eyes on each 

 portion. Sets are prepared for planting in shallow 

 boxes holding about 1 peck. The tubers are placed 

 on end, and if the boxes or trays have sides 

 narrower than the ends, they may be piled one 

 above the other to any convenient height. One or 

 two growths only should be retained, the others 

 being persistently removed, so as to concentrate 

 the energy in the sprouts that remain. This 

 ensures a crop of tubers of more even size and 

 shape than the planting of cut sets would do. In 

 preparing sets, a light, airy, but perfectly frost- 

 proof place is essential. 



Webber's White Beauty. 



Daniels's Special. 

 *Up-to-Date (*ef p. 230). 

 Windsor Castle (nee p. 228). 



POTATO MILTON GEM. 



Selections of Varieties : 



For Pots an'l Frames : 

 Sharpe's Victor. Harbinger. Snowdrop. 



First Early : 

 Puritan. Sharpe's Victor. Sutton's Al. 



Second Early : 

 Reliance. Snowdrop. 



Main Crop: 

 Beauty of Hebron. 

 'British Queen. 

 Crawley Prizetaker. 



* These for very heavy crops. 



For Exhibition : - 



White Hound: 

 Sunbeam. Royal Sovereign. Windsor Castle. 



Coloured Round : 



Lord Tennyson. Vicar of Laleham (see 



Milton Gem (see figure). p. 227) . 



White Kidney : 

 Satisfaction. Snowdrop. TTp-to-Date. 



Coloured Kidney : 

 Beauty of Hebron. Edgecote Purple. Reading Ruby 



Potato Disease. The common Potato disease, 

 I'hytophthora, (/. Peronospora) infestans, does 

 immense damage in some seasons. The fungus is 

 encouraged by bad cultivation in the form of close 



