1134 



PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



POTATO 



' Potato Apples ' from their general resem- 

 blance to small green Apples. Whether 

 the skins are green or not is of no great 

 consequence, but any tubers showing 

 signs of rottenness , or disease should be 

 burned or given to the pigs. Perhaps 

 it is not wise even to do the latter, as the 

 dormant spores of the Potato disease may 

 ultimately reach soil, and burning is 

 certainly safer always. 



Early in the year it is a good practice 

 to select the best and healthiest tubers, 

 and stand them on end in shallow boxes. 

 They may then be placed in a cool, airy, 

 and lightsome place free from frost. In 

 a short time the eyes or buds will begin 

 to sprout. All sprouts, however, except 

 two of the strongest and best at the upper 

 end should be removed, on the principles 

 that govern pruning, disbudding and 

 thinning out, so that those left may be- 

 come stronger. 



Raising Potatoes from seed. — The 

 berries or Potato Apples are the real fruits 

 of the Potato plant. They are very simi- 

 lar in structure to a Tomato, and each 

 berry may contain from 100 to 800 seeds. 

 To obtain tubers from these is a very slow 

 process, and one calculated to try the 

 patience of an amateur, especially as the 

 results may after all be valueless. Per- 

 haps one Potato out of 1000 seedlings 

 would be worth cultivation as a superior 

 variety. The seeds are sown thinly in 

 light rich sandy soil in spring, preferably 

 in frames, and the plants are attended to 

 in the usual way, in being pricked out, 

 watered &c. At the end of the first season 

 small tubers are formed. These are lifted 

 and carefully stored until planting time 

 the following season. About the third 

 or fourth season of cultivation in this 

 way the tubers assume their character- 

 istic shape, and may be seriously tested 

 for flavour and quality. Although 

 a tedious process, it is the only way to 

 obtain new varieties. The object raisers 

 always have in view is to produce a 

 Potato which will be not only richer in 

 flavour and superior in cropping qualities 

 to existing varieties, but also hardier 

 and capable of resisting disease. 



Soil. — Ordinary good garden soils of 

 a light and rather dry natvire and 

 thoroughly well drained will produce good 

 crops of Potatoes. The ideal soil, however, 

 is a rich light loam overlying limestone, 

 It should always bo in a state of good 

 cultivation, and may be deeply dug or 



trenched during the autumn or winter 

 months, but should not be heavily dressed 

 with farmyard manure. If not required 

 for other crops the soil vrill be 

 greatly improved by being ridged up 

 and exposed to the action of rain, frost, 

 and snow &c. 



Planti/ng imf ramies. — When an extra 

 crop of Potatoes is required, the ' sets ' 

 prepared as described above may be 

 planted in frames in January, in light 

 rich soil, the tubers being at least 9-12 in. 

 apart in the rows, the latter being about 

 1-2 ft. from each other. Attention must 

 be given to ventilation and light, and the 

 coverings should always be removed in 

 mild and favourable weather. 



PloMting out of doors, — Early Pota- 

 toes may be planted out of doors from the 

 beginning of February according to the 

 state of the weather and the locality. A 

 warm sheltered position facing south is 

 best. When the leaves appear above the 

 soil, it would be advisable to have some 

 dry litter or bracken fern handy between 

 the rows in the event of frost. Potato- 

 leaves are very sensitive to frost, and 

 many an early crop has been spoiled 

 through the want of a slight protection 

 of the foliage. The mid-season and main- 

 crop varieties may be planted from the 

 middle to the end of March in the southern 

 counties, say from St. Patrick's Day, 

 March 17, to Lady Day, March 25, both 

 well-known dates and easily remembered. 

 North of the Thames Valley, except on the 

 milder parts of the western coasts, late 

 varieties may be planted up to the end 

 of April. Potatoes planted at a later 

 period than April have scarcely time to 

 become fully matured by the autumn, 

 except in the south, and early varieties 

 should only be planted then. 



Winter Potatoes. — Where new Pota- 

 toes are required about Christmas time they 

 are obtained as follows. Tubers are kept 

 back in a cool, dry, airy place until about 

 the middle of July. They are then 

 planted in light rich soil in an old hot- 

 bed or cold frame in rows 12-15 in. apart, 

 each set being about 8 or 9 in. apart in the 

 rows. There is no need to cover the crop 

 until about September, but they should 

 have as much light and air as possible. 

 When the staUcs are well above the soil, 

 they may be mulched or ridged up with 

 light rich soil, and if dry may receive 

 an occasional watering. Towards the 

 ripening stage water must be withheld. 



