1084 



Gardening for Amateurs 



Early Potatoes. Presuming that the land 

 has been prepared in autumn as advised for 

 garden Peas, there will be very little to do 

 in spring beyond forking over the surface, 

 5 or 6 inches deep, preparatory to drawing 

 drills. Set a garden line, and dig out a fur- 

 row 6 inches deep in which to plant the 

 Potatoes. It is an advantage to place a little 

 leaf -mould in the bottom of the drill, the 

 Potatoes rooting more freely in this than 

 in the ordinary soil. Having finished the 



above ground, draw up the soil, covering 

 the base of the plants an inch or two deep ; 

 repeat this two or three times until the final 

 earthing-up takes place. This encourages 

 the formation of surface roots, and will pro- 

 tect the tops from frost. Beware of May 

 frosts, which are so destructive to Potatoes, 

 and protect the plants with dry straw, 

 bracken, or mats. 



Mid-season and Late Crops. Preparation 

 of the land and of the seed need similar 



Photo : A. L. Bonas, Castleacrc. 



An excellent crop of Potatoes. 



first row, shift the line 2| feet further back, 

 open another furrow of the same depth, and 

 cover the Potatoes in the first row with the 

 soil taken out in making the second, and so 

 on until all are planted. The distance be- 

 tween the Potatoes in the rows should be 

 15 inches. The best time to plant is as soon 

 as the eyes or buds on the tubers in the store- 

 room have grown about 1 inch long, which 

 generally happens the first or second week 

 in March. 



Hoe between the rows frequently in dry 

 weather. As soon as the young shoots show 



attention to that advised for early Pota- 

 toes. Both the rows and the tubers should 

 be at a greater distance apart ; the tubers 

 are usually put 18 inches apart, while the 

 rows are 3 feet from each other. Second 

 early Potatoes are planted from the middle 

 to the end of March ; later varieties at the 

 same time or early in April. Success in the 

 cultivation of the Potato depends greatly on 

 the frequent use of the hoe during hot, dry 

 weather. Earth up as soon as the Potatoes 

 are 6 inches high, first giving a dressing of 

 soot or of artificial manure. 



