i8 



Potato Growing. 



[APRIL, 



All these results have been obtained from Scotch seed grown 

 in Yorkshire for the second time only, and this notwithstanding 

 the fact that Scotch seed is generally at its best in England in 

 the second year. 



It must, however, be stated that in each of the trials the 

 potatoes were planted in May. From further experiments it 

 would seem that as great advantages are not obtainable in 

 districts where planting is possible about the beginning of April, 



If potatoes can be planted sufficiently early so that the 

 growth of the first sprouts takes place in the soil, then boxing 

 of late varieties, at all events, is probably unnecessary. That 

 loss, however, is suffered when potatoes have sprouted to a con- 

 siderable extent in the pies is unquestionable. Such potatoes 

 cannot be handled without many of the sprouts being damaged, 



and if riddling is resorted to in order to separate seed from 

 ware, the damage is still more aggravated ; reduction in yield 

 is bound to follow, and it only requires a simple test on the part 

 of the farmer to convince himself of the truth of this statement. 



Of course, there is the obvious objection that where large 

 areas of potatoes are planted it is difficult to provide sufficient 

 boxes for the seed and accommodation for them, but it ought 

 generally to be possible to box the earlier sprouting varieties. 

 If it be found impracticable or unnecessary to box the seed of 

 late or maincrop varieties, it is at least preferable to spread it in 

 a thin layer on the floor of a dry, well-lighted shed to leaving 

 it in the pie till planting time. 



The free admission of light is important. It has the effect of 

 producing a slow, sturdy growth of sprouts which are much less 

 liable to be knocked off at planting time than the pale, elon- 

 gated sprouts produced in the dark. 



