492 



Potato Growing. 



are placed in boxes in autumn, and stored safely from frost. 

 Some little time before planting, however, they should be brought 

 to light to harden them, particularly if through mildness of the 

 season there is a tendency to excessive growth. Good stout, 

 hardened shoots up to two inches in length are most suitable. 

 They must then be handled carefully, so that in planting, shoots 

 are not broken off. Uncut sets are undoubtedly the best for 

 boxing, as, having no soil about them for a lengthened period, 

 the moisture unduly evaporates from cut sets, and there is risk 

 of dry rot. 



Any shallow box may be employed, and many use trays 

 which slide conveniently into framework in the storing house, 

 the framework being arranged so as to carry the trays in tiers. 

 However, the trade now supplies, for about 30s. per hundred, 

 boxes of convenient size and shape, which, taking all points into 

 consideration, may be regarded as best suited for their purpose. 

 These boxes are 24 in. long, 12 in. wide, and 3 in. deep; the 

 ends, however, are raised to 7 in., and are braced by a tie piece 

 which answers the purpose of a handle, thus facilitating carry- 

 ing. The sets are placed indiscriminately into the boxes so as 

 to fill them level with the sides. When the planting season 

 arrives they are carefully planted. 



Earliness in producing tubers is of highest importance, for the 

 price falls rapidly week by week after the first supply of new 

 potatoes is in. The Ashleaf possesses in a marked degree the 

 peculiar flavour associated with new potatoes, and as this is so 

 well known by the consumer, there is a preference for kidneys 

 of this type, of which Sharpe's Victor is another favourite. In 

 our trials during the last two years we have, however, been much 

 impressed by a very vigorous new variety, the Sir John Llewellyn, 

 and our opinion has confirmation in the fact that its price is 

 more than double this year what it was last year, a very unusual 

 occurrence in the history of a potato when it has been before 

 the public four or five years. Its heavy cropping powers, 

 excellent quality, and the fact that there is no earlier variety, 

 ensure its being widely planted by those who grow for the early 

 market. The Puritan, a round variety, is largely grown in some 

 districts, and the Duke of York and Ninety Fold are other good 

 varieties of the kidney type. 



