POTATO 



VEGETABLE GABDEN 



POTATO 1135 



and on fine bright days plenty of air may 

 be given during tlie daytime. 



Distance of the rows dec. — The rows 

 if possible should run north and south out 

 of doors, as both plants and soil thus 

 obtain the greatest amount of light and 

 heat during the day. For the early kinds 

 and those forming comparatively small 

 tops a distance of 20 inches between the 

 rows wiU be sufficient. But for larger 

 and more vigorous maincrop varieties 

 24 to 30 inches will not be too much, and 

 even 3 ft. may be allowed where soils are 

 known to produce exceptionally fine crops. 



The ground having been properly 

 prepared, rows or drills about 6 in. deep 

 Diiay be drawn to a line with a hoe, and 

 in these the out or whole tubers or ' sets ' 

 may be placed from 10 to 15 inches apart 

 according to the variety. The soil is then 

 drawn over the ' sets,' and if necessary 

 the rows may be marked with a stick or 

 large label bearing the name of the 

 variety, date of planting &c. at one end. 



Nothing is gained by too close planting, 

 except a mass of small tubers and a pre- 

 disposition to disease among the matted 

 and ill-ventilated foliage. 



At the time of planting the drills may 

 receive a fairly heavy dusting of lime and 

 soot as a preventive against slugs, wire- 

 worms &c. 



Potatoes are usually grown in plots by 

 themselves, but occasionally the space 

 between the rows may be seen cropped 

 with other vegetables such as Savoys, 

 Brussels Sprouts, Kale, and other crops 

 that are not fit for use until after the 

 Potatoes are dug. It is by no means a bad 

 plan thus to intercrop Potatoes, but the 

 rows of the latter should certainly be not 

 less than 2^ ft. apart, and if 3 ft. apart so 

 much the better. Carrots, Parsnips, Tur- 

 nips &o. might thus be grown in between 

 in very 'smaU gardens to save time. 

 A variety of crops like this on the soil 

 improves its texture, but the principles 

 of the rotation of crops (p. 1104) should 

 always be borne in mind, so that as great 

 a change of crop as possible is secured 

 each season. The great advantage to the 

 Potato crop by this system lies in the fact 

 that the rows are usually much farther 

 apart than they otherwise would be, and 

 the plants thus secure more light and air. 



Manures. — Potato ground is usually 

 more or less heavily dressed with stable 

 manure, but many excellent gardeners 

 have come to the conclusion that better 



and cleaner Potatoes are obtained from 

 soil which has been dressed with artificial 

 manures. Where stable manure is used 

 it should at least be applied to the ground 

 the preceding autumn or winter, and not 

 shortly before the Potatoes are planted. 

 When applied at the latter period and a 

 wet season follows, the Potato disease 

 (see p. 1136) is likely to be more or less in 

 evidence. Where artificial manures, how- 

 ever, are used in conjunction with good 

 cultivation generally, the Potatoes usually 

 are clean-skinned and free from disease. 



The following manures have been 

 recommended as giving good results, 

 viz. : — 



5 parts superphosphate of lime 



2 parts sulphate of ammonia 



3 parts hai/nit 



strewn over the ground at the rate of 3 or 

 4 ozs. per yard before the drills are drawn. 

 Guano or muriate of potash may be also 

 used instead of sulphate of ammonia and 

 kainit, but great care must be exercised 

 in using the muriate of potash, as an over- 

 dose is likely to be more injurious than 

 useful. Half a hundredweight of it is 

 quite sufficient to mix with 2^ cwt. of 

 superphosphate. 



General treatment. — In the case of 

 the early crops, as soon as the tops are 

 well above the surface, the soil should be 

 drawn up on each side with the hoe. 

 This will protect the tops from the frost a 

 good deal and at the same time destroy 

 the weeds and ward off heavy rains from 

 the centre. As the tops become vigorous, 

 the maincrop varieties have the soil pulled 

 up to them in the saine way, thus 

 leaving a distinct furrow between the 

 ridges. In this furrow the crops men- 

 tioned above may be planted if necessary. 



Digging Potatoes. —When the stems 

 and leaves turn yellow and begin to wither 

 it is a sure sign that the tubers have 

 reached the mature stage. Digging may 

 commence at once, and the tubers be trans- 

 ferred to a dark dry cool and airy place 

 free from frost during the winter months. 

 They should be spread out as much as 

 possible and not piled in great heaps, as 

 they are likely to heat and become useless. 

 SmaU conical heaps resting on bracken, 

 dry litter &c. keep well. Any signs of 

 sprouting after the new year should be 

 promptly checked by rubbing out the 

 shoots, and it is wise to overhaul the 

 Potatoes occasionally for this very pur- 

 pose. 



