490 



Potato Growing. 



workings. Or it is applied between the ridges, the sets being 

 placed on it. As to the relative merits of these two systems, 

 the first is rather better suited to light land ; the latter to 

 somewhat heavier land inclined to set hard, because, as the 

 manure decays, the soil is left hollow and the tubers keep a 

 better shape than when they have to squeeze the hard soil 

 aside when forming ; moreover, the manure makes a division 

 between the soil and the subsoil, enabling the digger to work 

 more easily and with less bruising to the tender tubers. The 

 application of the manure earlier in the year enables the work 

 to be done at a less busy season, and its incorporation with the 

 soil holds up moisture in time of drought, and undoubtedly at 

 times is a means of preventing supertuberation or second growth, 

 which would occur if the plants were checked in growth. The 

 extent to which it is desirable to rot manure before applying it 

 is dependent on the season at which it is applied, and whether 

 the crop is of an early or late variety, an early one, of course, 

 requiring the most thorough rotting because the period of 

 growth is short. 



As a method of procedure in growing on a good light 

 potato soil the following is found a reliable practice :— Manure 

 in December, and at once plough at least eight inches deep. 

 Towards the end of February or beginning of March cross- 

 work with steam or heavy cultivator as deep as the plough. 

 According as the land comes wet or dry out of winter it may 

 be ploughed again when well worked, or may be left for a time. 

 As planting approaches it requires to be laid up in ridges, 

 preferably thirty inches apart, to allow working room between 

 the rows, and the manures should then be sown. The sets, 

 according to variety, require to be placed from a foot to 16 

 inches apart. (Very early potatoes may be planted much closer, 

 from 20 inches to two feet from row to row.) The tubers may be 

 covered as much as six inches by splitting back the ridges, for, 

 as soon as the weeds appear, the land should be harrowed 

 and brought flat, which will leave the tubers very near the 

 surface. As soon as the rows of potatoes can be seen to 

 afford a guide, the land between the ridges should be thoroughly 

 worked with a stout 5-tine single- row cultivator. Much of the 

 success of the crop depends upon this. It should be started 



