THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 135 
more feet apart, tlie sets are laid on them, and covered with, 
earth from between. Twice during the growing season the 
plant is moulded up with more earth from between, and the 
result is that the whole of its growth is made in a ridge above 
the general level, and a body of air is enclosed by the tile 
beneath its roots. In a wet cold season, when disease rages, 
potatoes grown on tiles are scarcely touched, and the quality 
of the tubers is above the average. On the other hand, 
in a very hot dry season the tile system does not pay so 
well, as the plant is apt to be starved through lack of 
moisture. Our tile potatoes are always planted in January 
or February, that the plant may make a good root-hold as 
soon as the ground is warm enough, to be the better enabled 
to withstand a drought. On light dry lands tiles are not to 
be thought of ; on heavy lands they will make a good return 
for a reasonable outlay. 
Planting Above Ground is a compromise, and a capital 
compromise, between the expense of tiles and the risk of ruin 
by disease. It is especially adapted to heavy soils. The lines 
are marked out four feet apart, and slightly trodden, and the 
sets are laid down on the surface to the line, and covered with 
stuff taken from between. In the first instance, an inch or 
two of soil is enough to cover them with. The soil between 
the rows is now well dug, and, if needful, a good body of 
stable manure or suitable artificials is mixed with it, and the 
top crumbs are drawn to the potatoes to add an inch or two 
more of soil to them. They are several times moulded up 
until the haulm is seated on ridges a foot high. _ The spaces 
between are planted with winter greens or broccolis. and when 
the potatoes come off there remains on the ground a profitable 
crop of brassicas. Potatoes grown in this way on strong land 
are remarkably fine : in fact, it is the right way, for they 
obtain a maximum of sun-heat, are not distressed by drought, 
and, in the event of disease occurring, lie so high and dry that 
it has no fair chance of decimating them. 
Potato Disease has been so largely discoursed upon, that in 
this practical treatise it will be advisable to say the least 
possible. It is certainly associated with the growth of a 
fungus ( Peronospora infest an s ), on the haulm first and in 
the tuber afterwards. Whether the fungus is the cause or 
the consequence or the mere accompaniment of the disease, is 
of little consequence. In a season characterised by dry 
