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Potato Growing. 



all those varieties developed from what are known as 

 " recently introduced, soft, white-blossomed American first 

 early, or early-second early varieties," thrive badly when 

 cut. Typical of these are the Snowdrop and Early Puritan. 

 Occasionally a variety other than one of the recent Americans 

 does not do well when cut, and it is always advisable to look to 

 this feature. A grower of some hundreds of acres of Snowdrops 

 always says he never knew a Snowdrop wounded at digging 

 time that did not decay during winter. As showing, however, 

 how conditions affect cut sets, practically every freshly-cut 

 eye, if limed at once, will grow and produce a good plant 

 when pot-reared. From what has been said about cut sets, 

 it is not difficult to understand that the size of a whole set 

 is not a matter of such importance as some would claim. If 

 planted deeply on badly-prepared, cloddy soil, a larger set is 

 preferable. On well-prepared tilthy land, especially since 

 shallow planting is being adopted so generally, a smaller set may 

 do equally well. The modern dictum in respect to planting is, 

 " the nearer the sun the stronger the shoot." In respect to the 

 size of sets, however, it is important that they come from 

 good stocks. A small set from a vigorous stock may be 

 'excellent, but after a variety has been out a number of years 

 the tubers deteriorate in size, and may produce little beyond 

 good seed size. Those obtaining sets from old stocks get poor 

 crops, and no small portion of the seed sent to the Colonies and 

 elsewhere is of this nature. 



The features which go most towards successful potato growing 

 are, soil of good depth, from medium to light in texture, affording 

 the opportunity to secure a good seed bed ; efficient surface 

 drainage, so that even in wet weather the tubers will not lie 

 in water-logged ground ; freedom from deep-rooted plants, 

 such as thistles, Persicaria and others, which take up moisture 

 during droughts before it reaches the potato roots ; a climate 

 without excesses of drought, rain, or frost (either spring or 

 autumn) ; and adequate manuring. The manuring of potatoes, 

 as of all crops, simply means supplying to the plant its food 

 in proper quantities at the proper time. There is nothing very 

 special about manuring for potatoes, except that it should be 

 liberal in comparison with that for cereals, especially in respect 



