36 



Potato Growing in Essex. 



[Apr., 



POTATO GROWING IN ESSEX. 



E. H. CuRRiE, Moulsham Lodge, Chelmsford. 



The potato is one of our most important farm crops^ and can 

 be cultivated successfully and profitably on all soils in this 

 country with the exception of the heaviest clays. In order, 

 however, that the best results may be obtained, it requires "good 

 farming " both as regards cultivation and manuring. 



In an ordinary farming rotation, potatoes are taken between 

 two corn crops, and are a very good cleaning crop. 



Cultivations. — The great mistake made by so many potato 

 growers is to give too little cultivation. They manure their land 

 well with farmyard manure in the autumn, and also apply a 

 liberal dressing of artificial manures in the spring. They then 

 keep their land reasonably clean, and of course are disappointed 

 if they do not get the maximum yield; but the first, last, and 

 all-important thing in potato growing is deep cultivation and 

 l)lenty of it, up to the time when the tubers are forming, when 

 of course all cultivations should cease. 



Useful Hints on Cultivation. — Ploughing should take place 

 as soon after harvest as possible, to a depth of at least six or 

 seven inches. A subsoiling plough should come directly behind 

 the ordinary plough, subsoihng an additional eight or nine 

 inches. The subsoiling plough should not bring any soil to the 

 top, but only break the subsoil, getting it into a good mulch 

 below. The land should then lie open until the spring, and 

 then, if the soil and weather will permit, it should be cultivated 

 deeply, preferably by steam tackle, but if steam tackle is not 

 available, a strong tractor will do the work. This cultivating 

 should be at least seven or eight inches deep. The land should 

 then be well harrowed until a level top is obtained. To economise 

 in labour it should then be ridged with a ridging machine 

 which makes two ridges (baulks or drills) at each operation, at 

 the same time sowing the artificial manure. This is a good 

 way to apply artificial manure, as a little of the mould rolls on 

 top of the manure, and the seed tuber does not come into direct 

 touch with it. The baulks should be about 27 inches wide. 



Methods of Planting and subsequent Cultivations. — The seed 

 potatoes should be planted directly behind the ridging machine, 

 the tubers being covered in with a double-breasted or moulding 

 plough. One horse should always walk on the top of the ridge 

 80 as not to displace any of the tubers in the furrow. 



