Farm  Prize  Competition , 1910. 
251 
In  this  instance  light  and  draught  are  carefully  excluded,  in 
order  that  growth  of  the  sprouts  may  be  accelerated.  The 
sprouts  are  slightly  hardened  by  exposure  to  light  before 
planting. 
Late  potatoes  are  all  Scotch  seed,  and  except  the  few 
referred  to  are  grown  from  large  cut  sets  planted  without 
sprouts  in  drills  28  in.  wide  and  about  18  in.  apart  in  the 
rows.  The  potato  crop  is  sprayed  twice  with  a mixture  of 
copper  sulphate  and  soda,  once  in  June  and  again  in  July, 
the  mixture  consisting  of  12  lb.  of  washing  soda  and  10  lb. 
of  sulphate  of  copper  to  every  40  gallons  of  water.  Sixty 
gallons  of  the  mixture  is  sufficient  for  spraying  an  acre  once, 
the  cost  being  about  6s.  per  acre  each  dressing  for  materials, 
labour,  and  depreciation  of  implements.  A heavier  and 
sounder  crop  has  undoubtedly  resulted  from  spraying.  The 
early  potatoes  are  lifted  by  piece-work  by  Irish  labourers 
at  a cost  of  about  35 s.  per  statute  acre.  Late  potatoes  are 
taken  out  by  a digger,  and  men  and  boys  are  employed 
to  pick  them  up  at  3s.  6c?.  per  day  for  the  men  and  Is.  9c?. 
for  boys.  Rather  more  than  three  acres  per  day  are  cleared 
in  this  way,  and,  in  Mr.  Almond’s  opinion,  besides  being 
much  better  for  the  land  it  is  also  better  for  the  potatoes.  The 
cost  comes  out  at  about  15s.  per  acre  less  than  piece-work. 
The  work  is  done  quicker,  and  consequently  less  risk  of  frost 
incurred. 
Notes  on  the  Catch  Crop  of  Cauliflowers. — The  plants  are 
reared  in  seed  beds  in  the  field  in  which  they  are  to  be  grown. 
Half  a pound  of  Veitch’s  Autumn  Giant  cauliflower  seed  is 
allowed  for  each  acre  that  is  to  be  planted.  The  seed  beds  are 
distributed  about  the  field,  so  that  the  plants  will  be  at  hand 
when  required.  It  is  important  for  the  health  and  vigour  of 
the  young  plants  that  they  should  not  be  crowded  in  the  seed 
bed,  so  as  to  ensure  a good  “butt”  (seed  bed)  of  plants.  One 
pound  of  seed  is  allowed  to  each  200  square  yards.  The  seed 
is  sown  in  the  butts  at  three  different  periods,  viz.,  during  the 
first,  second,  and  third  weeks  in  April,  the  object  of  the  three 
sowings  being  to  guard  against  total  loss  by  frost.  The  young 
cauliflowers  are  ready  for  transplanting  usually  from  the  first 
to  the  second  week  in  June.  It  is  essential  that  all  planting 
should  be  finished  before  Midsummer  Day. 
Just  before  planting-out  time,  the  drills  of  early  potatoes, 
between  which  the  cauliflowers  are  to  be  planted,  are  earthed 
up  and  cobbed  in  between  the  drills  with  an  implement  called 
a cobber,  which  makes  little  heaps  of  soil  about  24  in.  apart 
up  the  drills  in  which  the  cauliflower  plants  are  placed.  When 
the  potatoes  are  cleared  off,  the  cauliflowers  are  earthed  up  and 
treated  as  a separate  crop,  receiving  one  application  of  nitrate 
