420 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAOE GARDENER. 
[ Slaj 22. 1889. 
of which is seated the seed, a true fruit about the size of a large pea, 
but more egg-shaped and bright green, forming a most peculiar contrast 
with the richly coloured disk.—L. C. 
CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO IN JERSEY. 
The cultivation of the Potato in Jersey may be said to be quite a 
modern industry. It is not more than twenty years since the Jersey 
farmers first began growing the early Potatoes for the English market, 
but it is within the last ten years that the culture has attained its 
present dimensions. Anyone visiting the island for the first time during 
the early part of the year would be surprised to see the extent to which 
the Potato is grown. It is only during the first half of the year that 
it is apparent there is an unusual amount of land devoted to this one 
crop, for when the ground has been cleared of the Potatoes not a day is 
lost in getting in a second crop, and thecountry begins to assume quite 
a different aspect. It is no exaggeration to say that fully one-half of the 
agricultural land is daring the first half of the year devoted to the 
cultivation of the Potato. There is no doubt the soil and c'imate are 
highly favourable to the production of fine crops of early Potatoes, but 
it is only by high culture that the crop will pay even in Jersey. The 
Jersey farmers and gardeners have many advantages over their English 
brethren with regard to soil and climate, but they have also the dis¬ 
advantage of very high rent, and also being further from the market. 
Therefore the one object they have in view is to get their crops into the 
market before the English growers. Great attention has been given to 
this during the last few years, for when once the English growers begin 
to lift their crops it does not pay the Jersey farmers to send their crops 
to England. My object, therefore, will be to briefly describe the Jersey 
ways of growing the Potato. 
Soil and Manure. 
The soil of Jersey may be divided into three classes—light, medium, 
and strong. Near the coast, on the margin of some of the bays the 
soil is of a sandy nature, but as the is'and jumps up abruptly out of 
the sea and high above its level the soil is of a very rich nature, and 
about 3 feet deep. Most of it is what may be termed a rich yellovv 
loam, neither too light nor too strong, and very free from stones. In 
fact, if I wanted to set anyone a task that I knew they could not 
accomplish I should set them to find a basketful of stones in a newly 
ploughed field, and give them a day to do it in. It is soil that would 
gladden the heart of a Chrysanthemum grower intent on shining at an 
exhibition. But it must not be supposed that the soil is everything, for 
I am convinced that climate counts for more than either soil or manure, 
and it is doubtless because the climate is so favourable to the rapid 
growth of the Potato that it has been so much grown as a market crop. 
Rich as the soil is it is necessary that it should be well manured every 
year when under Potatoes if it is to be kept in good condition, for it 
must be remembered that after the Potatoes are off no time is lost in 
getting in a second crop, and really heavy crops too. I have often seen 
more than 20 tons of Turnips obtained from an acre of ground pfter 
Potatoes, so where much is taken off the land much must be put into it. 
Great care is taken of all the farmyard manure, and it is usually 
reserved for the Potato ground, very seldom is any used by the farmers 
for any other crop. In order that nothing may be lost liquid manure 
tanks are built near all the cowsheds and stables, and the produce 
reserved for the grass land. 
Although so much care is taken of all the manure, it is far short of 
what is required for the extent of ground under Potatoes, therefore 
great use is made of seaweed—not only for the Potato, but for grass 
and other crops. The seaweed is also much used for mulching 
Vine borders and fruit trees, and after close observation I consider 
it a decided acquisition on the farm and in the garden, and I strongly 
recommend its use to all that can get it. In addition, artificial manures 
are always used for Potatoes. No one thinks of planting a plot of 
ground with Potatoes intended for market without using guano in 
some form. It is not necessary for me to go into that subject fully, 
as most people have their own views on the use of guano ; but for 
earliness it is a decided advantage to use some kind of guano. I may 
say that it is a subject that demands the serious consideration of all 
emplojcd in producing food from the soil. This subject of chemical 
manures has been well considered by the Jersey farmers, and the results 
prove that it is a decided gain. I have known cases where at planting 
time a single row across the field had been planted without it, and 
marked ; the result j roved that where the guano was used the crop 
was as heavy again, but this was before the tubers were ripe, yet I 
would never use it on crops for my own consumption. I may here 
slate that although Jersey is only a very small place, from £50,000 to 
£00,000 is spent yearly on artificial manures. 
Preparing the Sets. 
The cultivation of the Potato begins with the preparation of the 
seed, and on this point Jersey farmers and gardeners are very particular. 
The sets when ready for planting have stiff sprouts an inch or so long 
and nearly bursting into leaf, and with this object in view they begirr 
to prepare the seed as soon as the crop is lifted. All seed Potatoes are 
set up in boxes made for the purpose. These are made of half-inch 
boards, 24 inches long and 12 inches wide, and 2^ inches deep ; four 
pieces, 7 inches iong and 1 inch square, are nailed in the corners; to 
the corner pieces across the ends is secured another piece 2^ inches 
broad ; and from end to end of the box, and fitted into the cross pieces, 
is a piece 1 inch square ; this strengthens the box, and serves as a 
handle to carry it. Made thus they can be stacked one above the other 
to any height, admitting light and air, which prevents the sprouts 
being drawn. Owing to the demand for these boxes they can be bought 
at 25s. per 100. When the seed is lifted the boxes are generally taken 
to the field, and the sets sorted in three sizes, and placed loosely in the 
boxes. Should the weather be fine and dry they are left in the open 
for a few' days ; they are then placed in open sheds until time can be 
found to set them up and store them away. The setting up is generally 
done on w’ct days, and when tightly packed in the boxes with the 
‘ eyes” upwards they are stored away in light and airy rooms. 
Chemical Manures. 
The chemical manures used for Potatoes in Jersey are almost most 
varied. Owing to the large quantities employed many makers and 
merchants vie with each other to procure as many orders as possible. I 
have to-day been in conversation with a guano merchant, and he tells 
me that he has during the present season sold no less than 600 tons of 
guano of the value of £5000, the guano being of five different kinds 
according to the soil and district in which it was going to be used. A 
given amount of some of the chemicals is insisted on in all the manures, 
but it varies according to the light or heavy soils. A manure that 
would be valuable on the strong land in the highest parts of the island 
w'juld be useless on the light and sandy soil near the sea. Very little- 
of the Peruvian guano is now used, as it is not quick enough in action, 
for Jersey. However, most of the manures used contain 8 per cent of 
ammonia, 5 per cent, nitrate of soda, 20 per cent, of phosphates, and 
10 per cent, of potash in some form. Superphosphates and other sub¬ 
stances are used to make up the bulk according to the views of the 
maker. The following mixture is what I have made and used, and 
found it not only valuable for Potatoes, but also for Vines, Tomatoes, 
Pears, and all kitchen garden crops : 2 cwt. sulphate of ammonia, 
8 cwt. of fine bone dust, 1 cwt. nitrate of soda, and 4 cwt. of burnt 
seaweed (ashes). The seaweed ashes being very rich in potash renders 
it valuable as a mixture. This mixture forms a strong manure, and 
requires to be used wuth great care. For Potatoes it is applied at the 
time of planting. The ground having been previously well prepared 
shallow drills are turned out, then the manure is spread in the drills 
with the hand at the rate of 40 lbs. for every hundred square yards 
planted. This is quite enough to use, and amply repays the grower for 
its cost. 
Many of the largest growers have had large rooms built specially 
for storing the sets, others not so well circumstanced use any spare- 
rooms in their houses ; but many of the farmers who are also Grape 
growers use their vineries for the purpose. A change of seed is by many 
growers considered necessary every two years or so ; by this I mean from a 
colder and later climate than Jersey. Many growers procure seed 
from Scotland each year, and keep the crop from them for seed the 
following year, for the Scotch-grown seed is not early enough for Jersey 
the first year ; but the crop is always larger the first and second year 
than from seed that has been grown in Jersey for a greater length 
of time. 
Preparing the Ground. 
The preparation of the ground for Potatoes in Jersey is very different 
from what it is in England, and I may say it would surprise many 
English farmers and gardeners to be on a Jersey farm when the large- 
plough is at work. I have often seen fifteen horses and fifteen to 
twenty men at work in a small field of not more than two acres on the 
large plough day. The ground is first scarified to the depth of 2 or- 
3 inches, afterwards it is well harrowed, then a deep trench is worked 
out down the centre of the field with the spade, and the manure is put- 
on ; some growers again harrow the ground to mix the manure with 
the loose earth. Many of the farmers only keep one horse, so a number 
