Potato Growing. 



491 



early, and the tines should work very closely to the sets — closer 

 than those who may not be accustomed to it might be prepared 

 to go for fear of disturbing the sets. The space between the 

 drills should be kept well stirred until moulding is started. 

 Some of the most successful growers of our acquaintance mould 

 twice or more, beginning with a shallow moulding, and getting 

 deeper on each occasion, by which means successive growths of 

 weeds are smothered. The hand hoe is thus never used. Others 

 make one moulding suffice, but they usually find it necessary to 

 hand-hoe to keep the weeds in check. The advantage of setting 

 drills 30 inches apart becomes very obvious, both when working 

 between the drills and when moulding up. 



The value of spraying to prevent the spread of potato disease 

 has been clearly shown during the past dozen years or so, and a 

 return to a series of wet seasons will undoubtedly cause it to be 

 practised on a scale not nearly approached at present. 



We are dealing only with the growing of the crop, so will not 

 enter into the subject of harvesting beyond saying that, except 

 for very young tubers dug " green " for the early market, we 

 find the digger the best means of raising them. 



Before the development of the Jersey potato trade, English 

 growers had the advantage of practically the whole of the 

 early or new potato trade. Malta, Teneriffe, Egypt, and other 

 countries more favourably situated in respect to climate, are now 

 strong competitors, and had they been more careful in their 

 selection of varieties they might have kept the English grower 

 practically out of the field. Jersey has shown the greatest care 

 in the choice of varieties and in the selection and changing 

 of the seed. Moreover, the growers instituted on a practical 

 scale the " boxing " of potatoes to ensure greater earliness. This 

 boxing of seed potatoes has now been largely adopted in parts 

 of England and Scotland, so that during the last few years a 

 considerable portion of the new potato trade has been regained. 

 In climates free from undue risk of spring frosts a very profit- 

 able business has thus been established. 



Sprouting is effected so that instead of the tuber lying some 

 weeks in cold ground before it comes through to the surface, the 

 period is much shortened ; the appearance above ground being 

 accelerated, maturity is earlier attained. Suitable-sized tubers 



