CULTIVATION OF POTATOES. 93 
POTATO CULTURE IN NUWABRA ELIYA. 
(Specially contributed.) 
The season for planting begins in March, and ends 
in September; very few people plant earlier or later 
because of the frost. Forest-land is the best, as it 
yields about twice as much as patana in general. The 
soil ought to be turned up one or two months (and 
longer if possible) before the potatoes are planted. 
Guano and cattle manures are most in use. The first 
yields the heaviest crop, the second is the cheapest, 
and some people think it lasts the longest: it is used 
by most farmers, especially by the natives. The land 
intended for the crop is dug over two or three times, 
and all roots and stones are removed; the drills are 
then cut about two feet apart, and the manure is 
then put in ready for planting. The potatoes from 
the Neilgherries, India, are preferred, though some 
plant seed they save from the first crop, from foreign 
potatoes, and now and again you see a crop of Aus- 
tralian and Bombay kinds. When everything is ready 
the potatoes are cut in pieces (such pieces ought to 
have two or more eyes) or planted whole, according 
to fancy, and planted outin the drills about one foot 
apart by Europeans, and about 8 inches apart by 
natives. They are then covered over with earth about 
2 inches deep. Nothing is done to them after, until 
they begin to grow, when the black grubs generally 
cut them off, so people go round catching the latter. 
When the plants are about 4 inches high, they ought 
to be moulded up, and again when they are about 6 
inches. Some people mould three times, but it re- 
quires care as the roots may be disturbed and so spoil 
the crop. The enemies of the potato farmer are, Ist, 
the black grub (mentioned above), which does the most 
harm during the first month. : 
2nd, the wind—it does the most harm during the 
months of May, June, July, August, and September. 
3rd, the elk—they eat off the tops and tread down 
the ridges and are hurtful all the season. 
th, the pigs—they root up the potatoes and eat 
them; they do the most harm during the 3rd month. 
5th, porcupines—do. do. do. do, 
6th, rats— do. do. do. do. 
wth, the frost—it does harm to the crops planted 
early or late if they are near water. 
8th, the disease—it shews itself before the pota< 
toes flower, and is the worst of all, as you can neither - 
catch, frighten, nor destroy it. The crops are ripe 
at the end of the 3rd month,* when they are generally 
dug out, and if an acre was planted and gave a fair 
* Some leave the crop in the ground two weeks longer, 
