1921.] A Modern Hertfordshire Farm. 923 



of view of ease in harvesting and obtaining the largest possible 

 quantity of saleable grain. 



Some eight years later sourness, resulting from the constant 

 use of artificials in quantity, became evident, and to counteract 

 this tendency a dressing of 10 cwt. of ground lime per acre is 

 now applied in the rotation every four years. The ground Hme is 

 distributed over the rotation grass " break." 



Potatoes. — Preliminary to planting, the stubble land is marked 

 off over the entire area of the break into 6-yd. squares, by 

 means of a plough, in readiness for the distribution of the farm- 

 yard manure. 



The expense of this operation is more than compensated for 

 by the time saved in putting the heaps out and in effecting 

 evenness of distribution. After the manure has been spread 

 on the flat in this way autumn ploughing to a depth of 6 in. 

 is carried out, followed by spring cross-ploughing to a depth of 

 8J-9 in. ' The land is then cultivated and harrowed and the 

 drills (28 in. wide) are opened; a depth of 3 in. is the rule.* A 

 dressing of artificials of the following composition is then sown : — 



3 cwt. high grade superphosphate. 



1 ., to Ij cwt. sulphate of aniiiionia. 



1 sulphate of potash, 

 tlj .. steamed bone flour. 



The potato sets are planted by hand 18 in. apart at a depth 

 of 2^-3 in., and are covered in by a medium-weight plough. 



A small quantity of the seed " is boxed. Boxing is only 

 necessary in the case of the later sown crops, which are planted 

 towards the end of April, or. if the weather breaks, as late as 

 May. 



The whole crop is sprayed twice. J In the case of white-skinned 

 varieties new " seed " is imported from Scotland annually. One 

 year old " seed " of the King Edward variety is found to give 

 as good results as seed obtained direct from the North. The 

 varieties grown in 1920 were King Edward. Great Scot and 

 Ally. 



The ^ield of ware is usually from 6 to 10 tons per acre. 

 A small quantity of seed size is sold, but as a rule all under ware 

 size is used as cattle and pig food. 



* For ihis purpose a combined furiow opener and manure sower bv 

 T. & E. Wallace is highly spoken of by the farmer. 



t Steamed bone flour is included to dr\^ the mixture and produce a friable, 

 sowable condition. 



X A strons: and durable machine V)y T. W. Chafer-Doncaster is recom- 

 mended ])y the farmer. 



