YOL. LV.— No. 3,073. 



SATUEDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1912. 



THE 



GARDENERS 



MAGAZINE 



NOTE OF THE WEEK 



4^ 



4 



from those that are sound when the crop the moisture to escape. If the weather is 



is lifted. With regard to this important dry the tubers may be allowed to lie on 



operation, it cannot be too generally the surface a few hours before being 



known that there is no advantage in leav- gathered up, but previous to storing it will 



be advisable to keep them in a dry shed 



Storage of Potatoes. 



So appreciably does the keeping proper- 

 ties and the quality of potatoes grown for 



winter and early spring use depend upon crease in the bulk, or an improvement of seriously impairs the flavour of potatoes 



ed the tubers after this stage has been passed ; as to fully justify whatever labour may be 



ing potatoes in the ground after the haulm 

 has died down. There cannot be any in- 



for a few weeks. Moisture in the store so 



that at all times it is of much importance 

 that careful attention should be given to 

 them when lifted. In a season such as 

 this through which we are 

 now passing, with the soil in 

 many instances heavily 

 charged with moisture, and 

 a considerable proportion of 

 the tubers infected by the 

 disease caused by Phytoph- 

 thora infestans, special care 

 is necessary to reduce the 

 losses in the store to a mini- 

 mum. 



well 



r 



but there may be additional losses from the 

 ravages of the disease. From this time 



onward, whether the haulm has died down so favourable to 



Moreover, it is 

 of disease 



Our readers will be 



with the 



acquainted 

 fact that the effects 

 an attack of this 



of 



are seen 

 form of 



first 



fungus 



in 



the 



b r o w n p a t c h e s o n 

 the leaves; and that when 

 the conditions are favourable 

 to its development, as in a 

 wet summer such as the one 

 through which we have just 

 passed, the mycelium rapidly 

 passes through the tissues o'^f 

 the haulm, destroying it in 

 Its course, and penetrates 

 some of the tubers. A por- 

 tion of these are so badly in- 

 fected that there is no diffi- 

 culty in at once recognising 

 their diseased condition, 

 ^hile others receive so light 

 an attack as to be able to 

 pass a close scrutiny unde- 

 tected. These latter give 

 "se to much anxiety among 

 those who are acquainted 

 *-»th the fact that when the 

 tubers are snhjected to the 

 ]^armth and moisture incidental to newly- 

 J»' me<l clamps, the disease spreads through 

 i«'m, thereby causing their decay, and, it 

 ""»y be, bring about an infection of the 

 •^'''ind tubers. When the cells have been 

 tho mycelium of the phytoph- 



^^'"tain bacteria obtain an entrance 

 m effect the decay of the tubers, which 

 commonly known as "wet rot." More- 

 whT/ ^""g^is known as Nectria solani, 

 rear! "^'^'^"^^''^ ^vinter rot, is able to more 

 wh'^K"^ ^^^^^^ diseasetl tubers than those 

 bor ■^'"^ ^"'^^^^ sound. If these facts are 

 und"'' "'j^l n" difficulty in 



7'"standmg the desirability of removing, 



G.M.442 



necessary to have them dry at the time 

 they are placed therein. 



the spread 

 among them that consider- 

 able losses may follow a neg- 

 lect of this precaution. In 

 all seasons there is more or 

 less objection to storing pota- 

 toes in wide clamps, but in 

 those such as this it is most 

 essential that the clamps be 

 quite narrow. Three and a 

 half feet in width at the 

 base will be the most suit- 

 able , for they wi 11 hold a 

 goodly quantity of tubers in 

 proportion to their length ; 

 Avhile the bulk will not be so 

 large as to occasion much ap- 



regard 



to 



])rohension with 

 either moisture or tempera- 

 ture. Unle^ss the groiuul is 

 naturally drv it will be a<lvis^ 

 able to have the base of the 

 olamp level with the surface^ 

 if not somewhat above it, and 

 not, as in ordinary seasons, 

 considerably below the gene- 

 ral level. The practice that 

 sometimes obtains of com- 

 pletely covering with soil the 

 stiaw ]aid over the tubers im- 



mediate I v 



thf 



clamp 



good 



is 

 one. 



formed is not a 

 Tliere is in all cases a certain 

 amount of hcatinii " and 



MR. EDWARD LAXTOX. 



sweating for some time 

 after the tubers have been 

 clamped ; aiul when the 

 moisture cannot escape there 

 are losses from diseases or a 



or is quite green, the lifting of the crop deterioration of quality, both of which 

 should be proceeded with as rapidly as cir- should as far as possible be avoided. Cover- 

 ing the ridge with straw only for a time 

 is probably best, for, while allowing the 

 moisture rising from the tubers to escape, 

 there is no danger of the rains finding their 

 way into the olamp, provideil the .straw is 

 laid on carefully. In four or five \\(H'ks it 

 will be safe to complete the earthing uji, and 

 liefore this is <lone insert drain pi]>os along 



cumstances will permit, and dry weather 

 should be taken full advantage of. When 

 the work has to be proceeded with in 

 showery weather, the tubers should be 

 dried by being spread out on the floor of 

 a dark shed, and the ventilation be so 

 regulated that a current of air will pass 

 over them. Should a dark shed be not 



available, spread the tubers on 



floor the ridge at intervals of a few f*^^t for the 



fa 



seased 



of a light one, or of a fruit house that 

 may be free, and cover with a layer of dry 

 straw about twelve inches in thickne.ss. 

 Placed somewhat loosely on the potatoes, 

 the straw will exclude the light, and allow 



purpose of securing sufficient ventihition. 

 This practice is one that can be adopted in 

 the most favoiuablo of seasons, but at 



r 



the present time its adoption will be 

 found so advantageous as to merit it 



