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HINTS ON THE CULTURE OF THE POTATO. 
Description. — A popular vegetable grown for its tubers, which are cooked and eaten. 
Varieties. - -These vary in extent of haulm, size, shape, and colour of skin and flesh 
in the tubers, and in quickness of reaching maturity. The different classes being described 
as for forcing, for summer use, for autumn use, for winter and keeping. 
Planting Season. — From November to May according to requirements. 
IIow to Plant. — When new potatoes are wanted by Christmas, sprouted tubers 
should be planted early in November in pots, in fairly rich soil and stood in a 
heated house. For later use potatoes may be grown in a frame to which heat can be applied 
when necessary. Tubers produced in this manner do not grow very large, but are very 
sweet eating. 
For outdoor culture, on dry soils in particular, it is customary to sprout the tubers before 
planting them in the ground ; this gives them a start. As early frosts damage the growth of this 
crop they should not be planted, unless in sheltered borders, until the middle of April. Small- 
topped early varieties from 12 inches apart in the rows with 18 inches between the rows, and 
strong growing later kinds 18 inches apart with 3 feet between the rows — all about 6 inches 
deep. One bushel contains about 500 seed tubers. 
After Treatment. — Frequent hoeing between the rows to let in both air and rain, 
which is beneficial. Earthing up admits greater action of the sun and assists the tubers to 
increase in size, lhe crop is not ripe until the haulm has withered. The season for this to 
happen depends upon the variety and extends from August to November. 
Potatoes should be stored in a dark place with an equable atmosphere between 40 and 
50 degrees. 
Enemies and Diseases.— The potato disease is a dreaded scourge, and as it seems 
to be connected with the weather, it is difficult to assign anything that will hinder its 
ravages. Spraying with a poisonous compound is adopted in the fields in some localities, 
and is often beneficial, but it can never become a general practice in small gardens. Good 
healthy tubers with a clean friable soil not over-fed are the best checks. 
French — Pomme de Terre. 
German — Kartoffel. Dutch — Aardappel. 
Italian — Patata. 
Spanish — P atatas. 
*37. *3®. & 97. High Hoi.bobn, Lon now.— 1904. 
