44 GARDENING FOR ALL. 
Hartlebury, Ombersley, and Stourbridge, thousands of acres 
are grown, the soil being sandy, warm, and dry, and well 
adapted to the cultural requirements of the potato. Good 
crops are obtained, but it would be an easy matter to increase 
their average by 25 per cent. if only the growers would adopt 
a higher and better method of culture. 
What are the conditions necessary to the healthy and 
robust development of the potato plant and a good crop of 
tubers? Deep, warm soil; enough moisture, but not too 
much ; space for the roots below the soil, and for the tops 
above the soil; a supply of proper food; protection from 
frost; timely planting; the planting of good, strong, and 
properly prepared seed. That is the essence of successful 
potato culture summed up in forty-two words. But my 
readers want details and not a summary. Very well, I will 
try to give them details, which, if they will carry into practice 
intelligently, will enable them to obtain crops of potatoes at 
the rate of from ten to eighteen tons per acre of late 
potatoes, according to the variety of the potato and other 
circumstances. 
Let the ground set apart for second early or late varieties 
of potatoes be bastard-trenched, as described earlier in these 
pages ; this secures the deep and warm soil so desirable for 
them. 
No matter whether the soil be light or heavy in nature, 
it should be forked over after digging, and before planting the 
potatoes. If it is heavy it ought to be forked over twice. 
Let the last forking be only a day or two before planting. 
Do not apply fresh manure unless the soil be very sandy 
or poor; but rather plant potatoes upon ground that has 
been well manured for a previous crop and which has left the 
soil well supplied with nourishment. An application of lime 
at the rate of three bushels per square perch, or a dressing 
with the special manure for potatoes mentioned on another 
page, will be most satisfactory, and tend to a decided improve- 
ment both in quantity and quality of the “noble tuber.” 
Plant all late varieties of potatoes by the middle of April 
if circumstances will permit. If the ‘‘sets’’ have been 
properly stored, the young sprouts will be quite as much 
advanced as is desirable or safe for them ; if they have not 
