59 
The Cultivation of Vegetables 
side of the drill, then to lift the entire plant out of the 
ground. If any of the tubers are injured they should 
be put aside for immediate use. Care must also be taken, 
when digging, to separate any tubers which show the 
least sign of disease, especially among those to be stored. 
On no account whatever should any diseased tubers be 
left on the soil, as they will simply infest the ground 
with disease germs. They should be destroyed, either 
by mixing quicklime with them or by burning. A full 
account of potato disease will be found in the chapter 
on plant diseases. 
Potatoes for future kitchen use may be stored in 
clamps on the ground in a dry situation. A hole the 
required size may be dug 6 to 8 in. below the level of 
the soil and the soil thrown to either side. The perfect 
potatoes should then he put in and built up into a cone- 
or wedge - shaped heap. They should then be covered 
over with clean, long, dry straw, neatly laid lengthways 
over the clamp to a depth of 6 in. The whole should 
then be covered with about io or 12 in. of soil. Two 
1 -in. drain pipes should be placed in the top of the clamp 
in a vertical position. These, having been previously 
stuffed with straw, will allow the air to get in, and pre- 
vent any possibility of heating. The soil should be 
brought up to a point and made quite smooth with the 
back of the spade, to allow the rain to run off. The soil 
having been taken out all round to cover the clamp, there 
will be plenty of opportunity for the water to drain away 
from the storing place. 
Potatoes required for replanting should be stored in 
boxes. They should be placed with the rose end, that 
