THE AMATEUR’S KITCHEN GARDEN. 137 
with, a liberal proportion of well-decayed manure. A depth 
of twelve inches will suffice for the soil, and in planting, open 
out trenches twelve inches apart, and four inches in depth. 
In these lay the sets, already well sprouted, from nine to 
twelve inches apart, and then cover them with the soil drawn 
from the trenches. The frame may then be shut up until the 
tops begin to make their appearance above the soil. After 
this stage a little air must be admitted whenever the weather 
is favourable to air-giving, to ensure a stocky growth. The 
weather alone must regulate the admission of air to the frame. 
In December and January very little air will suffice, but from 
the beginning of February onwards the frames will require 
ventilating more freely. The earliest crop should have a little 
soil drawn over the tops of the shoots when they first make 
their appearance above the surface, as an additional protec- 
tion from frost, and in all cases, when six or seven inches in 
height, they will require earthing up in *the usual manner. 
After the crop is in full growth, rather liberal supplies of 
water and abundant ventilation will be required. When 
nearly full-grown, the lights may in mild weather be drawn 
off altogether during the day, and, as far as practicable, 
advantage should be taken of these opportunities for watering. 
For the earliest crop the Old Walnut Leaf is the most 
suitable, as it turns in quickly, and it is so dwarf in growth 
that it takes up very little space. But for the best crop 
VeitcJis Royal Ashleaf will be found preferable, as it is a 
much heavier cropper than the Walnut Leaf, and is of the 
most excellent quality. 
Modifications of this plan will occur to those who are. 
anxious to raise new potatoes, and the rough Lancashire 
method will no doubt prove the most profitable. This method, 
however, taxes the energies of the cultivator so severely, and 
needs such constant watching, almost night and day for 
months together, that it cannot be recommended as generally 
useful. 
To grow early crops in the open ground requires only a 
little more care and trouble than the rough-and-ready modes 
by which store potatoes are obtained. Sloping borders under 
warm south walls, beds in old brick pits, with thatched hurdles 
or old lights and mats for occasional covering, and open plots of 
ground well screened by hedges and plantations on the north 
and east, and nicely sloping to the sunny south, may be turned 
