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ALBERT R. MANN
LIBRARY
New York State Colleges
OF
Agriculture and Home Economics
Cornell University
o
I
o
t> ^
O "
5 ^
THE BOOK OF THE
POTATO.
A Practical Treatise on the History, Propagation and Cultivation
of the Potato in Garden and Field for Home Consumption,
Market and Exhibition ; together with Special Chapters
on the Soils and Manures adapted for its successful
Culture ; Cross- Breeding and Rearing of New
Varieties ; Pests and Diseases of the Potato ;
Lifting, Storing, and Marketing the
Crop ; and a Descriptive List of
all the Varieties in Cultivation.
ILLUSTRATED.
Edited by T. W. SANDERS, F.L.S., F.R.H.S.
{Editor of '^ Aiiiatcu}- Gardening" and " Th^ Profitable Farm and Garden" ;
Author of " I'fgctablcs and their Cultivation" ; " Vegetables Jor Profit," Etc.)
1905.
LONDON :
W. H. & L. COLLINGRIDGE, 148 & 149, Aldersgate Street.
E.G.
FOR ALL WHO WISH TO MAKE MONEY OUT OF THE LAND.
THE PROFIxaBLE
FARM AND GARDEN.
ONE PENNY. Every Satlirday
Fruit— Vegetables — Dairy — Poultry — Pigs— Horses-
Cattle — Bees, &c.
COLOURED PLATE WEEKLY.
Subscription: 12 months, 616; 6 months, 3^3 ; 3 months, t8.
Offices : 14.S and 1^1:9, Aldersf^ate Sti-eet, London.
**^^^*
FOREWORDS.
The potato has been more or less prominently before the
British public for over three hundred years, but until a
year or so ago it has not excited any inordinate interest.
Previously, new varieties were ushered quietly into com-
merce, and made or marred their reputations without
much concern beyond the circle of those interested in the
j)otato as an ordinary vegetable for home consumption, for
market sales, or for exhibition. But since the advent of
two of Mr. A. Findlaj''s progeny into the market there has
arisen a tremendous boom in the potato world, fabulous
prices have been paid for new varieties, the gardening and
farming press have devoted a great amount of space to the
discussion of the merits and demerits of rival new varie-
ties, and even the daily press have taken advantage of the
boom to fill their columns with sensational items about
the marvellous features and capabilities of the humble but
useful tuber. In a word, not only practical and usually
hard-headed, cautious farmers and gardeners, but fortune-
hunters to wit, have nearly lost their mental baltoce in
their haste and desire to gain wealth by gambling in the
" new potato craze." It was patent to every sane person
at the time the boom was on that it would soon subside,
and that many who had foolishly and recklessly speculated
iv FOREWORDS.
in buying practically untried novelties would pay dearly
for their want of caution and extravagance. And that sur-
mise has been fulfilled.
The boom, however has served one useful purpose, and
so, after all, " good has come out of evil." It has drawn
wide and close attention to the great value of the potato
as an article of food, and as a source of profit to the farmer
and market gardener. It has demonstrated the impor-
tance of improving the potato, with a view not only to its
greater yielding powers, but also to the obtaining of a race
of potatoes that will resist disease, possess higher flavour
and better cooking qualities. Experience in the past has
shown that a variety will not continue year after year to
maintain its former high standard of perfection, and that,
consequently, new and improved varieties are absolutely
necessary to keep up a supply of profitable and edible
potatoes for culture in the garden and the field. The dis-
cussions in the press show that quality in a potato is the
primary feature, and that those who go in for rearing new
kinds must make it their chief business to produce it.
There are, undoubtedly, far too many varieties in culti-
vation at the present time. Their numbers are legion, and
it is positively bewildering, even to the expert, to make a
selection from them. How much more so is it, then, to
the novice 1 In lists every variety nearly is described in
glowing terms as the acme of perfection. There is a
splendid opportunity for the National Potato Society to
distinguish itself in making a thorough examination of the
almost endless list of varieties, and weeding out the worth-
less ones.
So much by the way. Our object in producing this
Handbook is not to help to sustain the recent boom in
potatoes or to encourage the inexperienced trade or private
grower to embark in rearing and flooding the market with
new varieties, or to lead anyone to suppose that there is
a fortune to be made in growing potatoes for market. We
are producing the work because there is a strong demand
for a really good, up-to-date work on the subject, one that
FOREWORDS. v
will supply reliable information on everj^ phase of potato
culture in the garden and in the field. Believing, as all
sensible persons do, that the potato is a crop that will pay
the farmer better than any other, provided he has suitable
land, and cultivates it on skilful and intelhgent Unes, v/e
have sought to place before the reader all the latest and
most reliable data that will be of service to him in attaining
that desirable object. As to how far we have succeeded
results and time will show.
In preparing the work we have been assisted by such
well-known experts as Mr. Edwin Beckett, F.E.H.S., the
well-known exhibitor and skilled cultivator of vegetables,
who knows more about the culture of the potato for exhibi-
tion than any other living expert in this branch of horticul-
ture; by Mr. W. E. Bear, whose knowledge, skill, and
experience of potato culture on the farm is not less pro-
found ; by Mr. H. C. Prinsep, the capable head gardener to
the Hon. Henry Portman, of Buxted Park, Sussex, whose
experience in the culture of garden potatoes for early sup-
plies is unrivalled ; and by Mr. John Walker and Mr. A. T.
Johnson, farming and poultry experts, in their valued con-
tributions on the potato as food for live stock and poultry.
Lastly, I have to acknowledge valued help afforded me by
my literary assistant, Mr. E. M. Bear, and every assis-
tance and encourageixieut from the publishers, who have
done their share so well in turning out the volume.
T. W. S.
cMU
w.
TwoPEXCE ; post free, 2^d. EvEKY Saturday.
THE
GARDENERS' MAGAZINE
A Practical Journal for Gardeners, Florists,
Nurserymen and Exhibitors o£ Flowers,
Fruits, Vegetables, &c.
NEW PLANTS and FLOWERS ILLUSTRATED.
Subscription : 12 moatbs, I0l6 ; 6 moattts, S/6 ; 3 moaths, 3. ■
Offices ; 148 and 149. Aldere^ate Street, Loudon.
INDEX.
PAGE
PAGB
Blacklands
28
Diseases of Potatoes—
Bordeaux Mixture
166
Spindle Disease
177
Botanical Features
16
Wet Eot
175
Name
16
Distances for Planting
76
Botany of the Potato
15
Drainage, Cost of
200
Boxing and Sprouting
Drill System of Planting ...
75
Tubers
62
Irish Experiments in
70
Exhibition, Culture for
97
Varieties for
102
Catch Crops in Gardens ...
93
Expenses and Eeturns
23
Cattle, Potatoes for Feeding
188
Chalk Caves, Culture in
111
Farm Soils
32
Channel Islands, Culture in
12
Farms, Acreage on
78
Clamping and Pitting Pota-
Culture on
78
toes
124
Field Culture
78
Cooking Potatoes
178
Varieties for
84,
Copper and Soda Mixture ...
166
Flat System of Planting ...
75
Crops, Estimating Weight of
200
Forcing Potatoes
102
Cross-Fertilisation
136
Foreign Names of the Potato
16
Cultiration, Cost of
198
Frames, Culture in Cold ...
108
Fungicides
166
Diseases of Potatoes
162
Bacteriosis
170
Garden Soils
29
Black Scab or Wart Dis-
Gardens, Culture in
88
ease
170
Early Crops in
90
Blight
162
Second Early Crops in . , .
91
Leaf Curl
175
Maincrops in
92
Eot
171
Scab
172
History of the Potato
1
Sclerotium Disease
171
Horses", Potatoes for Feeding
188
Sea Blight
177
Hotbeds, Culture on
106
INDEX.
Implements for Potato Cul-
ture ., 192
Diggers ... 192
Harrows ; 194
Hoes 197
Planter 194
Ploughs 193
Shovels 197
Sorters 195
Weighing Machines 197
Ireland, Potato First Intro-
duced to 2
John Evelyn's Advice
Lazybed System of Planting 75
Lifting the Crop 115
Lord Bacon on Potatoes ... 7
Measures ... ...
Monstrosities
Novel Potato Culture . . .
PAGE
... 198
... 201
... Ill
Manures and Manuring
Basic Slag .
Bone Meal .
Farmyard .
Kaiuit ...
Lime ...
Malt Dust .
Nitrate of Soda ...
Nitrogenous
Muriate of Potash
Phosphates for Heavy
Soils
Phosphates for Light Soil
Phosphatic
Potash
Seaweed
Soot
Special, for Field Crops ...
Special, for Garden Crops
Sulphate of Ammonia
Sulphate of Iron
Sulphate of Potash ...
Manuring Experiments, Eng
lish
Irish
Scottish
Marketing the Crop
36
37
37
36
38
42
40
40
40
38
37
37
37
37
42
40
40
40
40
38
38
48
44
47
115
Packing for Market 119
Pasture Land, Broken iip ... 33
Peruvian Guano 37
Pests 140
Bug 156
Centipedes 146
Colorado Beetle 146
Dart Moth Caterpillars ... 149
Death's Head Moth 152
Frog Fly 154
Heart and Dart Moth
and Larva 150
Millepedes 144
Potato Gnat 156
Slugs and Snails 158
Wireworms 142
Yellow Under-wing Moth
and Larva 158
Pigs, Potatoes for Feeding 188
Pits, Culture, in. Heated ... 108
Planting, Distances for ... 76
Drill System 74
Field Crops 82
Flat System 75
Lazybed System 75
Ploughing-in System ... 76
System of 74
Pot Culture of Potatoes ... 104
Poultry Pood, Potatoes as ... 182
Prices Obtained 22
Profitable Crop, Potatoes as a 20
Propagation 49
by Cuttings 55
by Cut Tubers 56
by Eyes 54
by Grafting 199
by Seeds 52
Puritan Times, the Potato in 7
Rearing New Varieties ... 132
Scotland, Introduction of
Potato into S
INDEX.
ix
PAGE
PAGE
•' Seed," Change of
. 61
Tubers, Boxing
.. 62
for Planting
59
Constituents of
.. 16
Size of
59
for Planting
.. 59
Whole, Cut, and Cutting
3 50
Offices of
.. 18
Soil Cultivation, Cost of ..
199
Soils and their Treatment ..
27
A''arieties, First Early
.. 209
Farm
32
for Exhibition
.. 103
for Early Crops
34
for Field Culture ...
.. 84
Garden
29
for Forcing
.. 110
in Relation to Acreage ..
28
for Garden Culture . . .
.. 93
Eidging
31
grown Sixty Tears Ago
.. 8
Trenching
30
List of
.. 207
Spraying Field Crops
86
Maincrop
.. 215
Stock Feeding, Potatoes for 187
Bearing New
.. 132
Storing Potatoes
122
Second Early
.. 211
for Planting
130
Green
130
Yield per Acre 20, 198
in Sheds
130
Yields, Heaviest
.. 199
a^ «ifi) a^/e a#^ a#/e d^/e
^Mtr ^Mer ^0tr -ttr ^Mtr ^titr
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Bacterial Disease 171
Berries of the Potato IS
Black Scab or Wart Disease
167, 168
Cave, Potatoes Grown iu 112, 114
Centipedes' 146
Clamp, Mode of Ventilat-
ing a 127
Section of a 125
Colorado Beetle and Larva... 148
and its Mimics 147
Cottage Loaf Tuber 202
Crop of Evergood Potatoes... 8.5
Dart Moth and Larva 150
Death's Head Moth and
Larva 133
Doggie Tuber 203
Dresser 196
Eyes, Propagation by 58
Flowers of the Potato .
Section of
Frog Fly
138.
15
139
154
Heart and Dart Moth and
Larva 152
Hotbed and Frame 107
Marine Animal Mimic 203
Millepedes 146
Monarch of the Mould ... 204
Potato Bug
Potato Gnat and Larva
Propagation, Mode of...
Eidging Soil, Mode of
PACE
.. 156
. 156
.. 54
.. 31
Scab Disease 174
Seed or Sets, Sizes of 60, 61, 62. 63
Tubers, Mode of Boxing 64
Slugs 159
Snail, Garden 159
Spindle Disease 176
Sprouting Boxes, Forms of 71, 72
Storing, Faulty Practice in 123
Storing Seed Tubers 131
Trenching Soil, Mode of ... 30
Tuber, Improperly Sprouted 66
Pierced by Twitch 206
Properly Sprouted 68
Tuber-in-Tuber Freak ... 205
Varieties, Beauty of Hebron
British Queen ...
Dalmeny Jewel...
Dalmeny Regent
Discovery
Duchess of Cornwall
Duchess of Norfolk
Duke of York ...
Early Puritan ...
Early Queen
Eldorado
9
11
99
95
17
57
81
25
39
3
65
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
PAGE
arieties, Ensigii Bagley
.. I0,i
Varieties, Ruby Queen
.. 155
Eureka Extra Early...
.. 151
Satisfaction
.. 35
Evergood
.. 155
Scot, The
.. 89
Extra Early
.. IIT
Sharpe's Express
.. 173
Gold Beef
77
Sharpe's Victor
5
Goodfellow
.. 185
Sir John Franklin ...
.. 133
Highlander
.. 141
Sir John Llewelyn ...
.. 21
Ideal
.. 165
Snowdrop
.. 35
John Austen
.. 73
Southern Star
. 169
King Edward VII. ...
.. 21
Superlative
.. 121
Knockout
.. 109
Syon House Prolific
.. 144
Leader
.. 137
Up-to-Date
.. 43
Lim Gray
.. 136
Vermont Gold Coin ...
.. 133
Ninety!' old
.. 43
"Warrior
.. 129
Nobleman, The
.. 67
"Westmere Forester ...
.. 161
Northern Star
.. 51
Windsor Castle
5
Pearl, The
.. 145
XL All
.. 157
Peckover
.. 141
Yorkshire Glory
.. 179
Provost. The
.. 67
Eajah, The
3
"tt'ireworm and Click Beetle 142
Recorder
.. 47
Ringleader
.. 151
Yellow Under-wiug Moth
.. 158
LONDON :
fhinted ex w. n. and l. coeling-eidge,
148 & 149, ALDESSGAIE STREET, E.G.
The Book of the Potato.
CHAPTER I.
HISTORY OF THE POTATO.
The early history of any popular flower, fruit, or vegetable
grown in British gardens is always interesting alike to the
student or grower. And so any historical facts about the
tuber which has commanded so much notoriety among gar-
deners and farmers, the last year or so, will be sure to meet
with ready acceptance. In compiling histories, however,
legend is often so much bound up with fact that it becomes
no easy task to write a really truthful narrative, and espe-
cially when the subject thereof has been more or less under
notice for several centuries, as in the case of the potato,
for instance. However, we have consulted the best autho-
rities, and we give the story, based upon such information
as we have been able to obtain.
An Early Nineteenth Century Account.. — The
best historical account of the potato we have come across
; appears in Loudon's " Encyclopaedia of Gardening," pub-
lished in 1836. Therein we read: " It appears probable
that the potato was first brought into Europe from the;
mountainous parts of South America, in the neighbour'
2 THE POTATO.
hood of Quito, where they were called papas, to Spain,
early in the sixteenth centiuw. From Spain, where they
were called battatas, they found their way to Italy, and
there received the same name as the truffle, taratoufli.
From Italy they went to Vienna, through the Governor of
Mons in Hainhault, who sent some to Clusius in 1598.
To England the potato found its way from North America,
being brought from Virginia by the colonists sent out by
Sir Walter Ealeigh in 1584, and who returned in July,
1586, and 'probably,' says Sir Joseph Banks, 'brought
with them the potato.' Gerarde, in his Herbal, published
in 1597, gives a figure of the potato under the name of
Potato of Virginia, whence, he says, he received the roots;
and this appellation it appears to have retained, in order
to distinguish it from the battatas or sweet potato (Con-
volvulus battatas) till the year 1640, if not longer. . . .
Gough says the potato was first planted by Sir Walter
Ealeigh on his estate of Youghal, near Cork, and that they
were soon after carried into Lancashire. Gerarde and
Parkinson, however, mention them as delicacies for the
confectioner, and not as common food. Even so late as
Bradley's time (1716, in his ' Historia Plantarum Succu-
lentarum ') they are spoken of as inferior to skirrets and
radishes.
" The use of potatoes, however, became more and more
known after the middle of the eighteenth century, and has
greatly increased in all parte of Britain within the last
thirty years. It is also very general in Holland and many
parts of France and Germanj', and is increasing rapidly
in Eussia. In Spain and the East and West Indies they
are not much cultivated, owing to the heat of the climate;
but in all the temperate parts of North America, Australa-
sia, and South America, they are grown by the colonists.
In China they are cultivated, but not extensively, owing
to the slow progress which everything new makes in that
country. Indeed, no root hitherto discovered is so well
adapted for universal use as the tubers of the potato ; for,
having no peculiarity of taste, and consistmg chiefly of
HISTORY OF THE POTATO. 3
starch, their farina is nearly the same as that of grain.
Hencer^vvrtEPtfae-^wer [flour] of potatoes, puddings and
FiKST Eaklv Potatu— The Rajah.
such hke preparations as do not call the gluten of wheat-
flower [sic] into action maybe made equal to those of millet
or rice, and excellent bread, with a moderate proportion of
FiBST EaELY ir'OTATO — Eaklt Queex.
good wheat-flour. Potato starch, independentlj- of its use
in the laundry and as a hair-powder, is considered an
equally delicate food as sago and arrowroot. As starch
b2
4 THE POTATO.
and sugar are so nearly the same that the former is easily
converted into the latter, the potato yields a spirit equal to
that of malt by distillation, and a wine or beer by the
fermentative process."
Another Account — We next turn to the " Treasury
of Botany," dated 1884, an invaluable standard work of
reference on matters botanical, where we are told that
" The native country of the potato (Solanum tuberosum),
and the date of its introduction into Britain, have been
subjects of much discussion. There can be no doubt of its
being indigenous to various parts -of South America —
plants in a wild state having been found on the Peruvian
coast, as well as on the sterile mountains of Central Chili
and Buenos Ayres. The Spaniards are believed to have
first brought it to Europe, from Quito, in the early part of
the sixteenth century. It afterwards found its way into
Italy, and from thence it was carried to Mons, in Belgium,
by one of the attendants o-f the Pope's legate. In 1598 it
was sent from Mons to the celebrated Clusius at Vienna,
who states that in a short time it spread throughout Ger-
many.
" The first potatoes that reached this country were
brought from Virginia by the colonists sent out by Sir
Walter Ealeigh in a.d. 1584, and who returned in 1586.
They were planted on Sir Walter Ealeigh 's estate near
Cork, and were used for food in Ireland long before they
were even known or cultivated in England. Gerarde had
a plant in his garden in Holborn, and has given a figure of
it in his Herbal, published in 1597, under the name of
Batata virginiana. He recommends the tubers to be eaten
as a delicate dish, and not as common food.
" In the time of James the First, they were so rare as
to cost two shillings a pound, and are mentioned in 1619
among the articles provided for the royal household. In
1633, when their valuable properties had become .more
generally known, they were deemed worthy of notice by
the Royal Society, which took measures to encourage their
First Eaely Kidn-et Potato —Sharpf.'s Vtctok.
Second Earlt Oval Potato —Windsor Castle,
6 THE POTATO.
cultivation, with tlie view of preventing iamine ; but it
was not until a century after the above date that they
were grown to any extent in England.
" In 172.J they were introduced into Scotland, and cul-
tivated with much success, first in gardens, and afterwards
(about 1760), when they had become plentiful, in the
fields. Since that period the prejudices which so long
existed against their use, both in England and Scotland,
have gradually vanished, and for many j'ears past, the
potato crop has been regarded throughout the British
Dominions as a most valuable addition to the stajDle com-
modities of life, only second in importance to cereals."
Further Historical Notes — The history of the
potato is dealt with at some length by Phillips in his " His-
tory of Cultivated Vegetables," dated 1822. He remarks:
" We are informed that it [the potato] was accidentally
thrown on our shore by a vessel wrecked on the coast
called North Meols, in Lancashire; a place and soil even
now famous for producing this vegetable in great perfec-
tion. " We learn from the same source, too, that "the
potato first became an object of national importance in
1662-3, as appears by the record of a meeting of the Royal
Society, held March ISth in that year ; when a letter was
read from i\Ir. Buckland, a Somersetshire gentleman, re-
commending the planting of potatoes in all parts of the
kingdom, to prevent famine. This was referred to a com-
mittee, and, in consequence of their report, JVIr. Buckland
had the thanks of the Society ; such members as had lands
were entreated to plant them ; and Mr. Evelyn was de-
sired to mention the proposals at the close of his
Sylva. ' "
"In Shropshire," says the same author, "Lord Clive
found it an excellent practice to permit the planting of
potatoes [by, presumably, his poor tenants] in his young
[tree] plantations, the season after the young trees are put
in the ground. The potatoes were continued for three
years. "
HISTORY OF THE POTATO. 7
Phillips fmther remarks: "Mr. Coke, of Holkham, in
Norfolk, permitted the poor to plant potatoes in his young
plantations, and fomid the cultivation beneficial to the
trees. . . . Air. Abdy, of Essex, grubbed a wood, and
planted potatoes, which answered well. It would be
highly profitable to allow the poor to plant baulks and
headlands in cornfields with potatoes."
John Evelyn's Advice — John Evelyn, in his
" Kalendarium Hortense ; or, the Gard'ner's Almanac;
Directing what He is to do Monthly, throughout the
Year," published in 1664, evidently does not hold the
potato in very high estimation, for in his directions for
the month of February, he briefly says, " And plant your
potatoes in your worst ground." In the November in-
structions, he further remarks: "Take up you potatoes
for winter spending, there will be enough remain for stocks,
though never so exactly gather'd."
Lord Bacon on Potatoes — The celebrated philo-
sopher has the following quaint reference to the potato in
his "-Natural Historj' " : "If," saj's he, " potado fsic]
roots be set in a pot filled with earth, and then the pot
with earth be set likewise within the ground, some two or
three inches, the roots will grow greater than ordinary.
The cause may be, for that having earth enough within
the pot to nourish them, and then being stopped by the
bottome of the pot from putting strings downward, they
must needs grow greater in breadth and thicknesse. And
it may be that all seed roots, potted and so set into the
earth, will prosper the better."
Potatoes in Puritan Times. — In " Donaldson's
British Agriculture," the author states that " The Puri-
tans condemned the use of the potato, as the plant was
not mentioned in the Bible, and as that gloomy enthu-
siasm ruled for some time, it may have hindered the com-
modities of life from a general diffusion."
S THE POTATO.
Introduction of the Potato into Scotland. —
In the excerpt culled from the " Treasury of Botany," it is
stated that the potato was first grown in Scotland in 1725.
The " Scottish Field," however, in reviewing our " Vege-
tables and their Cultivation," wherein we repeated this
fact, controverts our statement. It says: " The potato is
here stated not to have been introduced into Scotland
prior to 1725, when there are several known instances of its
having been grown earlier, the Duchess of Buccleugh hav-
ing paid 2s. 6d. to a neighbour for a peck in 1701, and in
1683, Sir George Mackenzie's gardener published details
of its cultivation and treatment generally." We are glad
to be able to rectify the error, and to record the additional
facts supplied by the '' Scottish Field." Phillips, in his
" Historj' of Cultivated Vegetables," records that
" Thomas Prentice, a day labourer, first planted potatoes
in the open fields, in Kilsyth; the success was such, that
every farmer and cottager followed his example."
Market Cultiire of the Potato. — The first account
we can find of the potato being extensively grown for
market appears in the writings of the late Arthur Young,
the agricultural writer and traveller. He mentions that
in 1807, a farmer, named Puttman, of Barking, in Essex,
grew 300 acres of potatoes, and sent to market, washed
ready for sale, no less than 3,000 tons.
Varieties Grovwn Sixty to Seventy Years Ag^o.
— In .lohnson's "Farmers' Encyclopaedia," published in
1842, we learn that the potato was then grown extensively
in field and garden, and considerable space is, conse-
quentlj', devoted to the subject in that volume. The varie-
ties then grown for field culture were the Ox-Noble, Cham-
pion, Purple Pued, Rough Red, HundredEyes, Kidney, and
Moulton White ; while for garden culture Broughton's
Dwarf, Early Warwick, Ash-leaved Kidney, Fox's Seed-
ling, Early Manly, Early Mule, Early Kidney, Nonsuch,
Early Shaw, and Goldfinder, are sorts advised for the ear-
i4
10 THE POTATO.
iiest crops; and Early Champion, Red-nose Kidney, Large
Kidney, Bread Fruit, Eed Streak, or Lancashire Pink-eye,
Black Skin, and Pied Apple for main crops.
Potato Culture in the Forties. — The cultivation
of the potato in the forties appears to have been well under-
stood, for most of the cultural details which are considered
of so much importance to-day were strongly urged as essen-
tial to success at that period. For instance, in regard to
the application of stable manure, it is advised to " spread
the manure over thesurfaceprevious to digging, rather than
put into the holes with the sets, or spread in the trench,
when they are so planted." There seems to have been a
diversity of opinion with regard to the size of the " sets "
used for planting. Some growers were in favour of the
largest and finest tubers planted whole; others, large
tubers cut into portions, with one or two eyes to each;
others, again, large tubers cut in halves ; while some be-
lieved in using the shoots only, or in employing the parings
as sets. The author of the last-mentioned volume ex-
pressed his opinion, as the result of experiment, "that
moderate-sized sets, having two healthy buds or eyes, are
most advantageously employed; middling-sized whole
potatoes are the best, from which all but the above num-
ber of eyes have been removed, but especially having the
crown, which is a congeries of small eyes always present,
first removed ; for from these proceed an equal number of
little spindled stalks, which are comparatively worthless,
and injure the main stem. For the early crops, almost the
very contrary to the above is advantageous to be prac-
tised. The ' set ' should have the crown eye, which is
one growing in the c^,ntre of the congeries of small ones
above mentioned, preserved. Some potatoes have
two such eyes, but the generality only one. This is always
the most prompt to vegetate." The same author also re-
marks that " Cuttings of the stalks, five or six inches in
length, or rooted suckers, will be productive, if planted
during showery weather in May or June ; and during this
HISTORY OF THE POTATO. 11
last month, or early in Jul}-, it may be propagated by
layers, which are formed by pegging down the young
stalks, when about twelve inches long, they being covered
three inches thick with mould at a joint."
In Holland's " Agricultural Survey of Cheshire " refer-
ence is made to the system adopted in that county of grow-
ing early crops of potatoes. Says the author: " These [the
' sets '] should be prepared in November, by removing
Second Eaklt Kidney Potato — Bkitish Queen.
every eye but one or two; and being placed in a layer, in
a warm room, where air and light can be freely admitted,
with a covering of chafi or sand, they soon emit shoots,
which must be strengthened by exposure to the light and
air as much as possible, by taking off the covering without
injuring them. The leaves soon become green and toler-
ably hardy. In early spring they are planted out, the
12 THE POTATO.
leaves bemg left just above the surface, and a covering oi
litter afforded everj? night until the danger of frost is past."
Rearins New Varieties Seventy Years Ago.
— In the " Transactions of the Horticultural Society of
London," Vol. II., p. 64, very full information is given on
the subject of rearing new varieties from seed. The gar-
dener is advised to keep the tubers of each seedling sepa-
rate, as scarcely two ^vill be alike in shape or quality, while
many will be worthless, and but few of any excellence, a
fact which still holds good at the present day. It is also
remarked that " Seldom or never does a seedling resemble
exactly the original stock."
Potato Culture in the Seventies. — In that ex-
cellent little volume, "British Industries, Horticulture,"
by Mr. ¥. W. Burbidge, M.A., F.L.S., published in 1877,
we gather that potatoes were extensively grown as a mar-
ket garden crop at that period. There was an enormous
demand for tubers for eating, as well as for the manufac-
ture of starch and gum. It appears that large areas were
devoted to potato culture at Deptford and Chiswick, near
London, while in Lancashire, the district of Ormskirk was
at that time a famous one for early crops. Cottagers and
small farmers planted the tubers on beds of light, rich
earth, protected by walls of turf, and reed or
straw screens or frames, which were used in frosty
weather only. The crops were lifted in May, packed
in hampers, containing 201bs. each of tubers, and
sold in the Manchester, Blackburn, and Bolton
markets, the produce realizing as much as Is. per pound.
Mr. Burbidge informs his readers that " as much as
£70 had been offered by local dealers for the produce of a
little cottage garden, not large enough for the support of
a cow. "
Potato Culture in the Channel Islands. — Ac-
cording to the last-named source of information, the cul-
HISTORY OF THE POTATO. 13
tivation of early potatoes for the English markets com-
menced somewhere about the seventies. Mr. Burbidge says :
" During the last few years, a remunerative industry has
made rapid progress in the Channel Islands, where, owing
to the difference in the climate, the potato crop reaches
maturity earlier in the season than is the case in many
parts of England; and, consequently, a ready market is
found in London, where the Channel Island produce com-
petes successfully with that from Southern Cornwall, the
Scilly Islands, and Normandy. Every year the quantity
of early potatoes from Guernsey and Jersey increases, so
much, indeed, that these islands are likely to become
potato gardens ere many years elaps". Most of the people
who possess a patch of ground make a point of cultivating
this crop, either in the open air or under glass, as the case
may be. Many acres of pits, frames, and glass-houses are
devoted to potatoes during the winter and spring months.
In these houses the potatoes are ready for digging very
early in the spring, when they are sold for as much as Is.,
or more, per pound to the Covent Garden dealers. Some
idea of the extent already reached by this new industry
may be formed from the fact that during two months ol
the potato season of 1876, 22,623 tons w-ere exported from
Jersey alone, the value of this quantity being £215,000.
From trustw^orthy data, it has been calculated that the
cultivation of this vegetable alone yields annually a re-
turn of £7 10s. for each acre in th-. island of Jersey."
The Potato in Modern Times. — We have collated
together in the foregoing paragraphs as many fragments of
the historj' and progress of the potato as we have been able
to discover, and such as we deemed of sufficient interest to
the potato enthusiast. So far as the history of the potato,
during the last twenty years, is concerned, there is nothing
very startling to add beyond the fact that very consider-
able progress has been made in the improvement of the
potato by rearing new varieties, superior in form and
qualit3% and with greater powers of resisting disease. Es-
14 THE POTATO.
perts, like the late Mr. Paterson, Kobert Fenn, Messrs.
Sutton and Sons, A. Findlay, etc., have, indeed, effected
quite a revolution in the potato industry, and put on the
market really first-class varieties that have made them-
selves famous, and will continue to do so for years to come.
So prominent has the potato become that we now have its
interests looked after by a special society, the National
Potato Society, whilst there is also an annual exhibition,
solely devoted to displaying the merits of the countless
varieties now in commerce.
The years 1903 and 1904 will be memorable in the future
annals of the potato In these years the noble tuber was
" boomed " as it had never been before, and the extra-
ordinarj' prices obtained were far and away without paral-
lel in the history of the potato. It may safely be asserted
that such extraordinarily high values will never again be
obtained. Certainly, not in this generation.
BOTANY OF THE POTATO.
15
CHAPTEE II.
BOTANY OF THE POTATO.
It is the business of every Handbook devoted to a special
subject, or crop, to give tlie fullest details thereon, and so
The Flowers of a Potato.
we shall supply a few facts about the botany and physio-
logy of the potato, so that the information imparted herein
about the latter is as full and complete as possible.
16 THE POTATO.
Botanica.1 and Cominon Names — First of all,
the botanical name of the j^otato is Solanum tuberosum,
pronounced So-la'-num tu-ber-o'-sum. The first, or generic,
name is an old Latin word used by Pliny, the great Koman
naturalist; and the specific name means tuberous-rooted.
The common, or English, name, potato, is derived from
the Spanish name patatas. The latter is also the Portu-
guese name of the potato, while an almost similar name,
patata, is used by the Italians. The French call the potato
pomme de terre ; the Germans, kartoffel; the Flemish and
Dutch, aardaffle; the Danish, jordepeeren ; and the South
American, the papas.
Natural Order. — The potato belongs to the natural
order Solanaeese, a family of plants embracing the
tobacco, tomato, petunia, nightshade, etc.
Botanical Features. — The potato is a tuberous-
rooted laerennial, has white, lilac, or lavender coloured
petals, five stamens, one stigma, and bears globular
berries containing from 200 to 300 seeds. The tubers
which concern the gardener and farmer most, are subter-
ranean stems enlarged by the development to an unusual
degree of cellular tissue. In the cells nutriment, in the
form of starch, is gradually stored during the season of
growth, ready for the sustenance of any future shoots
which may develop from the latent buds or ej'es, sunk in
the surface of the tubers. The food thus stored is first
absorbed in a crude state by the roots, then conveyed to
the leaves. Here it is joined by the carbonic acid ab-
sorbed from the air by the leaves, and then, under the
influence of sunlight, the chlorophyll causes the carbon
to separate from the oxygen, and to combine with the
hydrogen and oxygen of the crude sap, and thus form the
starch, which is gradually conveyed down to the enlarged
portions of the root, called the tubers. The eyes of a
potato tuber are really leaf buds and analogous to those
formed on the stems of a plant.
18
THE POTATO.
Offices of Tubers and Seeds. — In this wav
Nature has made provision for two methods of reproduc-
PoTATO Spiles ok Beeries. (See p. 16.)
tion of the species — by tubers and by seeds. It should be
understood that a potato plant also stores up a similar kind
I
BOTANY OF THE POTATO. 19
of food in the ceils of thie seeds. Hence, it frequently
flappers that early potatoes concentrate their energies so
fully in storing up food in the tubers that they fail to
produce flowers or perfect seeds. The main object of cul-
tivating the potato is to secure an abundance of large
tubers, and so we feed the plant liberallj" with that object
in view; in other words, we encourage it to devote all
its energies to tuber production. If we wanted a potato
plant to yield flowers and berries in preference to tubers,
we should attempt to discourage the formation of too
many tubers, and so divert the manufactured food to the
formation of seeds, by growing the plant in a poorer soil.
So far as the perpetuation of a potato is concerned, a
tuber is as good as a seed. The tuber, as previously ex-
plained, contains reserve food for supporting the young
growth till it can begin to put forth roots of its own, and
collect its own soil-food. Directh" it is placed in the moist
earth, or if it is stored in a warm place, heat and moisture
penetrate the skin of the tuber, oxygen is absorbed, and
this, combining with the cell nutriments, chemically
changes the starch into sugar, and provides the special
form of food which the bud or eye requires to induce it to
begin to grow. Precisely the same thing occurs in the
case of a seed. When leaves are formed, as well as roots,
the former collect food from the air, called air-food, and
the latter food from the soil, called soil-food.
The story of the office and development of a tuber or
seed has been told in as simple language as possible, in
order that the novice in botany and plant physiology may
understand the matter with ease. To the scientific reader,
the facts we have set forth are well known and under-
stood in a fuller degree than we have described.
c 2
20 THE POTATO.
CHAPTER III.
POTATOES AS A PROFITABLE CROP.
Ti-iE statistics of the potato acreage in Great Britain, given
in Cliapter IX., convey the impression that the growing
of tire crop is profitable, for otlrerwise the area would not
have remained as great as it was twenty years ago, while
the arable acreage, as a whole, has greatlj' decreased.
One partial explanation of this satisfactory state of affairs
is that in respect of soil, skill, enterprise, and varieties of
potatoes in cultivation, taken together, this country is pre-
eminent in potato production: while another is that the
crop is such a bulky one that only very early produce will
pay for transporting over great distances, except when the
main crop is particularly dear, and then home growers get
large returns.
Yield. — The average yield of potatoes in Great Britain
for the ten years ending with 1904 was 5.83 tons per acre,
and if the exceptionally bad crop of 1900 were omitted, it
would come out within a very small fraction of 6
tons. Few foreign countries can show such an aver-
age. That of France is only about 3J tons per acre,
that of Denmark about 4 tons, and that of the
United States only a little over 2 tons. Germany and Bel-
gium, so far as can be judged from the returns of a few
recent years, are close or equal to Great Britain; but then
they grow a large quantity of coarse tubers for distillation.
Averages, of course, are brought down by the inferior crops
grown on unsuitable soil and by men who spend very little
POTATOES AS A PROFITABLE CROP.
21
upon them. Enterprising growers in tlie best potato dis-
tricts of Great Britain would not be satisfied with much
(iMAiNCKOp Kidney Potato— King Edwakd VIL
/ Fiest_Eaklt Kidney Potato— Sib John Llewelyn.
less than double the average for the whole country.
a competition in Scotland last autumn three of the com-
22 THE POTATO.
petitors were declared by the judge to have produced over
18 tons per acre, the highest yield being 18 tons 13-1- cwt.
No crop responds more freely to liberal manuring than the
potato crop, and, excent on land new to potatoes, and full
of organic matter, great crops cannot be produced without
such treatment. In Jersey very heavy manuring is
general, and, although potatoes are grown on the same
land year after year, while the crop is raised very early,
and much before it has grown to its utmost bulk, 6 to 8
tons per acre are produced. In the parts of this country
where yields of 10 to 12 tons per acre are often produced
on a large acreage, the manuring is also on a very liberal
scale. In many experiments the yield has been twice as
much on manured as on unmanured land, even when only
artificials have been used. In Ayrshire, as in Jersey, early
potatoes are grown on the same land j'ear after j'ear, and
yet, by means of heavy manuring, seaweed often taking
the place of farmyard manure, excellent crops are grown.
Potatoes raised when they are only half-grown, to catch
the high-priced markets, do not commonly yield more than
3 to 6 tons per acre ; but later liftings run up to 8 or 10
tons, and occasionally as high as 14 tons. These and other
figures relating to the Ayrshire crop were supplied by large
growers to Mr. Arthur Sutton a few years ago, when he
was visiting the district, and they were published in an
article which he contributed to the Journal of the Eoyal
Agricultural Society. Such crops of early potatoes,
although not early enough to sell at the highest rates, are
very profitable. But the district is one of the very few
parts of Great Britain in which first earlies can be grown
without serious risk of damage by frost.
Prices. — There are great variations in the prices of
potatoes in different years, as well as in those of the very
early and the late tubers in the same season. With respect
to the main crop, it would not be very easj' to find a greater
variation than there is in the prices of the present season,
1904-5, and those of the preceding one, as the rates have
POTATOES AS A PROFITABLE CROP. 23
rarelj' been lower than those of this season, or higher than
those of 1903-4. On the last Alonday in 1903 the range
of prices in London, taking the quotations of three mar-
kets, was 75s. to 130s. per ton; and on the corresponding
day of 1904 it was 50s. to 80s. Prices in both seasons, of
course, were much lower on -farms, and particularly in
parts of the countrj^ distant from the great markets. For
example, at Crieff, an important Scottish market for pota-
toes, British Queens were quoted early in 1904 at 75s.
to 80s. per ton; while this year at about the same period
they were onlj- 32s. 6d. to 353. Up-to-Dates were sold at
about the same prices as British Queens in each season.
Again, in the planting season of 1904 one of the most ex-
tensive Lincolnshire dealers in seed potatoes quoted
102s. 6d. per ton for British Queens, and sold a large
quantity at that price ; while this year he has offered the
same variety at 65s. The most complete statistics of
prices for early potatoes are those of Jersey, the quotations
representing prices at the port of St. Heliers. In 1904 the
start in shipments other than the small lots from hothouses
was a low- one, and the average for May 2-14 was £28 12s.
per ton. No doubt some hothouse produce was included.
By the first week of June the price had fallen to £6 Is. 4d.,
and before the end of the month there was a drop lo
£2 OS. 6d., which was followed by a rise to £3 9s. 4d., at
which the season ended, on July 23. The starting price
is usually £30 to £32, and in one year, on May 5, it was
£45 per ton for 25 tons. There is always a great drop in
the course of a few weeks, but prices have seldom been
as low as those of 1904. In Ayrshire, where raising usually
begins from the middle to the end of June, the crops are
mostly sold by the acre to dealers, who raise and market
them. Very early pieces sometimes make £35 to £40 per
acre, but £26 to £32 are more nearly average rates.
Expenses and Returns. — The cost of growing an
acre of potatoes varies enormously, with rent, wages,
manuring, ajid methods of raising. Here is an account
24 L^ ~ .THE- POTATO.
of the estimated expense in a district where wages are
2s. 6d. per day at ordinary times, and 3s. 6d. for potato
raisiDg :
Eent, rates, and taxes
Autumn cultivation
Two ploughings
Cultivating and harrowing in spring ...
Eidging
Ten tons farmj'ard manure and spread-
ing
Artificial manures and sowing
Seed, IScwt. , at 4s
Planting and covering
Cultivating after planting
Earthing up
Chopping out large weeds
Raising with plough, picking, and cart-
ing ware to station 3
Clamjjing, riddling, and marketing
seed and chats 10
Share of miscellaneous expenses of
farm 10
£
s.
d.
2
1
1
10
5
2
10
3
3
12
6
5
2
£18 10
If London dung carted from station
used instead of farmyard manure,
extra 1 10
£20
This is an account of the estimated expense of what may
bo termed moderate farming for potatoes. The rent is
higher than the average on the farm, the best land being
used for potatoes. Seed from Lincolnshire or Scotland
would cost more in soiTie seasons, and seldom less, includ-
ing rail carriage. The expense of raising is heavy, as the
o
O
X
<
26 THE POTATO.
ware is picked up separately and carted direct from field
to station, while the seed and chats are clamped, and after-
wards sifted, the seed being re-clamjjed or stored in a
building. The expense of rail carriage is not added, as
it varies greatly with distance. Nor is the salesman's
commission charged. It is 10s. per ton for potatoes raised
somewhat early and consigned in sieves (bushel skips) or
barrels supplied by the salesm.an. In London the commis-
sion is reduced to us. per ton when potatoes are sent in
bags. With such farming as is indicated by the account,
a crop of 8 tons one season with another should be grown,
and it is clear that, unless an average of over £3 per ton
be made of all sizes together, no less a crop than that will
be fairly profitable. Where the potatoes are carted un-
sorted to clamps, to be dealt with later on for marketing,
the cost of raising the crop is much less ; but then the
prices obtained for the ware are lower as a rule, and an
average of £3 per ton for all sizes would not be obtained
on the farm in most seasons. From £15 to £30 per acre
may be regarded as the range of expensas in Great Britain.
In Jersey the growers put their expenses at £35 to £40 per
acre, as they often pay £10 per acre for rent, and even
up to £15 for choice bits of land sloping towards the south.
Then they spend up to £15 for manure, and labour
amounts to a good deal. They do not consider a return of
less than £40 per acre fairly remunerative, as they have
to get a living off a few acres. Those who pay £15 an acre
for very fine spots for the earliest production need £50
per acre to afford them a moderate profit. It is true that
they grow roots or some other forage crop after potatoes in
the same season, and that they make some profit on their
cows ; but the potato crop is their mainstay. Their return
in 1904 was almost ruinous. Assuming that their acreage
was about the same as in 1903, the return for the potatoes
shipped was not much over £29 per acre, and the extra
money received for potatoes consumed in their island
would not be mucn. In 1903 the " record " return of £60
per acre was made, and it has been over £50 in a few
SOILS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 27
other seasons, and over £40 often. As, no notice has been
taken of the prices of new varieties of potatoes,
" boomed " extravagantly as they have been, so no refer-
ence to the returns obtained by fortunate speculators has
been deemed desirable. Potato growers who are distant
from a good market make more money in a season when
the croji in the country generally is small, and prices are
high, than when a great yield has to be sold at low rates,
because the rail carriage and marketing expenses are much
heavier on the great crop, being the same per ton when
prices are low as when they are high.
CHAPTEE IV.
SOILS AND THEIR TREATMENT.
The potato will succeed in almost any soil, provided it be
properly cultivated. But experience demonstrates the im-
portant fact that while good crops may be grown in any
soil, it does not follow that the produce thereof will be of
equally good flavour and quality. Crops grown on heavy
clay land, for example, are inclined to be waxy and want-
ing in flavour. The same remarks apply to those grown on
peat or bog lands. Those grown on the deep, rich, silicious,
or gravelly loams of the Old Red Sandstone formation in-
variably turn out of better flavour and also cook more
floury than those grown on other soils. We have also
observed that crops grown on the greensand and marls
of the New Red Sandstone formation yield produce of first-
28 THE POTATO.
rate quality. In the fen and warp lands of Lincolnshire
potatoes do remarkably well, especially in those of peaty
origin, known locally as " Black Lands." In Essex, on
the London clay, and in Sussex, on the Wealden clay,
good potatoes are likewise grown.
If we turn to the annual official statistics, giving the
acreage of potatoes grown in Great Britain and Ireland, we
shall find that there are few counties in which potatoes are
not extensively grown, and on a great diversity of soil
formations too. In Cambridgeshire, for instance, 24,024
acres were grown in 1904. The northern part and the
centre are mostly fen land, and the remainder the Upper
and Lower Chalk formation. Cheshire grew 24,167 acres,
the soil being a reddish loam or marl overlying the New
Eed Sandstone. In Lancashire no less than 44,665 acres
of potatoes were grown, and here there are a variety of
soils, clays, marls, and peat beds overlying the Coal Mea-
sures, New Bed Sandstone, and Millstone Grit. Lincoln-
shire, as might be expected, grew 76,249 acres. The chief
crops were grown on the fen or warp lands, already alluded
to, as well as probably on the Lias, Marl, and Greensand
formations. The East, West, and North Ridings of York-
shire collectively grew 52,563 acres on a diversity of soils
overlying the New Eed Sandstone, Millstone Grit, Mag-
nesian Limestone, etc. Then, m Wales, Cardiganshire,
which possesses a by no means favourable soil, on the
Silurian formation, grew 5,450 acres, or nearly double the
acreage of any other county in the Principality. In Scot-
land, the biggest acreage grown last year was in Perth-
shire, this being 13,678 acres. The geological formation
here is Silurian and Old Red Sandstone. Fifeshire comes
next with 15,831 acres, Forfarshire with 13,305 acres, and
Aj'rshire with 9,457 acres. Here, again, the chief geologi-
cal formations are Old Red Sandstone, Silurian, and Coal
Measures. In Ireland the largest acreage devoted to pota-
toes in 1904 occurred in Co. Cork. Here 44,665 acres were
grown, and these chiefly on the marly soils overlying the
Old Red Sandstone formation. The next highest acreage
SOILS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 29
(41,855) was grown in Co. Down, on the Claj^ Slate forma-
tion, a very poor type of soil. In Limerick and Tipperary,
where the richest soil prevails, potatoes do not appear to
be grown so extensively. Still, the soils of Ireland are,
as a whole, richer than those of England and better
adapted for potato culture than ours. They have no strong
retentive clays, but, on the other hand, there are a large
proportion of peat lands. The main drawback to success-
ful potato culture in Ireland is the excessively moist
climate. We mention the foregoing facts to show that,
although the best results are obtained from certain soils,
yet large crops are grown on soils of a very diversified
character.
Garden Soils. — Those of the ordinary garden type
that have been well manured for years only require an
occasional application of lime (see chapter on Manures) to
put them in good order for successful potato culture.
There are some garden soils, however, that, while rich as.
regards manure, are often wanting in depth of tillage.
Such soils have probably been dug over the orthodox one
spit deep generation after generation, and consequently
there is just about one foot or less of tilled soil on the sur-
face, the subsoil being hard and impervious to moisture.
Soils of this character are bad for successful potato cul-
ture. The potato loves a deep soil, and dislikes having its
roots brought in contact with an impervious subsoil,
covered with stagnant water. Such a soil should therefore
be trenched fully two feet deep, taking care not to bring the
sour subsoil to the surface, but merely to turn it over.
This work should always be done in the autumn, if pos-
sible. Soils that have been properly trenched from time
to time ought to be thrown into ridges in the autumn, and
left thus all the winter. The action of the frost and air
upon soils thus exposed will be most beneficial from a
chemical and mechanical point of view, as well as assisting
to reduce the numerous pests that have sought refuge
therein. Soils of a heavy nature, required for growing
30
THE POTATO.
earlj' crops, would be all the better for haTing plenty of
decayed vegetable refuse, leaf-mould, and grit mixed with
them at the time of digging. You cannot make a soil too
friable, nor render it too free from stagnant moisture.
Deep tilth drains a soil, and enables its interstices to be
filled with air instead of water, renders it drier and
warmer, and promotes the development of nitrifying
organisms.
How to Deepen Soil by Trenching. — In trench-
ing a piece of land we should avoid the erroneous and bad
system of burying the top and good soil, and bringing the
■'■','/////!.
Mode of^Bastard-Trenching Soil.
bottom and bad soil to the top. Some people say that
soil so treated is improved in time, which is correct; but
the cost of such improvement is conducive to loss rather
than profit. We desire to obtain at once the most profit-
able crops possible ; and we can, and do, obtain such
crops by the process of bastard-trenching. By this pro-
SOILS AND THEIR TREATMENT. 31
cess we obtain all the benefits attending such deep
culture, and none of the disadvantages of the other system
of trenching. Let us, in imagination, prepare for bastard-
trenching by first showing such a trench in section: We
commence by removing spit number 1 in the diagram, next
the path, or elsewhere; then spit number 2; and finally
spit number 3, and the whole is wheeled to the other
end where we propose to finish the operation, and where it
will be required for the purpose of filling up the last trench.
We now proceed to throw forward the spit nuraber 4,
placing it where number 3 has been. Then the top spit,
number 5, is thrown forward and fills up where number 1
was; and so on, until the whole of the ground has been
bastard-trenched. It is advisable to bastard-trench a
fourth or fifth of the entire area under spade culture each
year, thus trenching the whole of the ground every four
or five years. Whether that quantity is trenched or not,
the whole of the ground required for carrots, parsnips,
and beet should be so prepared, and no manure should be
given to these tap-rooted crops.
Improving a Soil by Ridsin^. — By this process a
larger volume and surface of soil is exposed to the air, the
elements, and the frifiids of the cultivator — the birds — ■
than by the process of ordinary digging. Frost penetrates,
sweetens, fertilises, and pulverises a larger amount of
soil, and birds more easily obtam the larvae of insect pests
which naturally exist, or shelter, in the soil; two distinctly
important gains to the gardener. Eidging is not so often
carried out as it deserves ; and this is chiefly because few
people have heard of the operation, and fewer understand
the modus operandi, simple as it is. The work is com-
menced exactly as in single digging; that is by first excavat-
ing a trench a spit wide and a spit deep across the plot to
be ridged, and taking the soil to where it is proposed to
finish. Then we proceed to dig in the ordinary manner,
by inserting the spade as deeply as possible, and fitting the
spadeful of soil by a sharp downward pressure of the handle,
32 THE POTATO.
and a simultaneous lifting of the lower part of the spade.
The spadeful of soil is projected forward and turned over
at the same time, and deposited in the trench, and so
on right across the plot. Although the method of taking
up the spit of soil, projecting it forward, and turning it
over, is identically the same as in single digging, the
manner of placing each spit of soil is rather different. We
wish to have the soil in ridges, and in a rough condition,
and in order to obtain that result special means must be
adopted, and thej are exceedingly simple. Now let us
see how it is done. We dig the first spit of soil, and pro-
ject and turn it over in front of us. We take a second
spit, and serve it the same, placing it by the side of the
first. We now take a third spit, and place that on the top
of the first two, and we have formed the commencement
of a ridge, thus:
We proceed as before, by taking two more spits and throw-
ing them forward; then add another third spit to the top
of them ; but instead of placing the first of each three
spits of soil in contact with the second spit of each preced-
ing three, we leave the space of a spit of soil, thus:
11 I I
and so on across the plot. This process is repeated again
and again, forwards and backwards across the plot, until
the whole is completed, and we have a piece of ground
in ridges and furrows hke the annexed diagram.
Farm Soils. — In the treatment of farm soils deep til-
lage is equally important. Trenching, of course, is out of
the question, but deep ploughing should certainly be done,
and this as early in the autumn as possible, so that the
turned-up furrows may be thoroughly " weathered " dur-
SOILS AND THEIR TREATMENT.
33
Ridging Soil : The Finished Work.
ing the winter. It is especially necessary to plough in
autumn in the case of heavy soils. In rainy districts, like
those of Scotland, ploughing is best done in early spring
— j\'Iarch; then the surface quickly dries, and is more
easily worked into a fine tilth. Light soils generally may
also be best ploughed over in March, Equallj- important is
it to see that the land is well drained. A water-logged
soil is sure to promote the development of disease, and,
at the same time, prevent the proper maturation of the
tubers. .Soils, therefore, that are very heavy and lo\^"-
lying, are best eschewed for potato culture. In the spring
take advantage of fine weather to get the land into fine
tilth before planting. There is a great deal more in the
proper preparation of the soil for successful potato growing
than most gro«'ers are aware of. Those who defer the
ploughing till late in winter, or omit to see that there is
a good and deep tilth, and then endeavour to make up for
these shortcomings by the liberal use of manures in spring,
are simply throwing their money away. A little artificial
manure v.'ill yield far better results on a well-tilled roil
than a larger quantity applied to an ill-tilled one.
Broken-up Pasture Land — Old pastures that are
to be converted into arable land form an excellent soil in
which to grow potatoes. Apart from the fact that the
potatoes will do well on such a soil, the cultivation needful
for the crop will put the soil in good heart for other crops.
It must, however, be borne in mind that pasture land is
liable to be very badly infested with wireworms am(
34 THE POTATO.
leather-jacket gvubs ; ami hence it is needful to take pre-
cautionary measures against injury by such pests betore
planting the potatoes. Where expense is a secondary con-
sideration, it is undoubtedly a good plan to pare and hum
the turf before ploughhig. The paring should be done to
the depth of almost three mches. Start a tire with stra\'i-,
sticks, and other dry rubbish, then add some of the driest
of the turves, and when the tire has got a good hold keep
adding turves until the whole are charred. Several fires
may be formed thus. The burning converts the vegetable
matter into valuable plant foods, and destroys injurious
grubs. The ashes should be spread evenly over the land.
The cost of paring ^■^■ill amount to about £1 per acre, the
l)urning to £1 5s. or Ml 10s. per acre, and the distribu-
tion of the ashes to 5s. per acre, or a total of £2 10s. to
£'2 Ids. per acre.
Where this cannot be done on tlie score of expense, then
apply quicklime, at the rate of ten tons per acre, before
breakmg up the pastiu-e. Gas-lime may be used instead,
at the rate of ten cwt. per acre, if the ploughing be done in
autum.n. Some gro\^'ers have used salt at the rate of ten
cwt. pier acre before ploughing in autumn, and found this
an excellent pre^entive against wireworm attack. In
Ijreaking up the pasture, it is advisable to follow the ordi-
nary plough with a subsoiling plough, in order to get a
good depth of workable soil.
Best Soils for Early Cropsi—It is important to
bear in mind the fact tliat light-coloiu'ed soils are colder
than darker ones. The former reflect the sun's rays,
whereas the latter absorb them. Soils, therefore, that
overlie chalk or limestone are apt to be light-coloured and
less warm than dark soils heavily charged with humus, the
result of many years of manuring. The latter type of soils
is best for early crops ; that is, if well drained and free from
stagnant water. They are warmer and in other respei-ts
better suited for promoting that genial gro^\tb which is
so essential in the case of early crops.
Maincrop Oval Potato — Satisfactiox.
First Eakl? Kidnev Potato— Snowdrop.
D 2
36 THE POTATO.
CHAPTER V.
MANURES AND MANURING.
The subject of manuring land for potato cultivation is one
of considerable interest to potato growers, and we pu'opose
in the following notes to give a digest of tfie opinions ex-
pressed by various authorities, in order that some tangible
idea may be formed as to what kinds of manures are best
adapted to yield the most satisfactory results.
The manures advised by the leading authorities are
farmyard dung, superphosphate, basic slag, bone-meal,
phosphatic Peruvian guano, kainit, muriate and sulphate
of potash, sulphate of ammonia, nitrate of soda, sulphate
of iron, sulphate of lime, magnesium salts, and soot. Ihe
farmyard dung may be said to be an all-round manure,
because it contains small quanties of phosphates, potash,
and nitrogen, the three chief elements required as food
by the potato. Superphosphates, basic slag, bone-meal,
and phosphatic guano are phosphatic manures; kainit, sul-
phate, and muriate or chloride of potash are potash
manures; while sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda
are purely nitrogenous manures. We will now deal briefly
with the merits of each manure, so far as they apply to
the potato.
Farmyard Manure — This is generally agreed to be
an indispensable manure, partly from a chemical, and
partly from a mechanical point of view. Chemically, its
small quantities of phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen
are helpful to the crop, but they are not sutiieient, or so
readily accessible, to aid materially in the development of
MANURES AND MANURING- 37
a heavy crop. It is more from a mechanical standpoint
that farmyard manure is a valuable aid to potato culture.
In this capacity horse dung increases the porosity and the
temperature of heavy soils, and so\\ or pig dung serves to
bind light or sandy soils together, conserve the moisture
in dry seasons, and, consequently, provide a congenial
pabulum for the surface roots. Thus, in the case of heavy
soils, by rendering them porous and vi'armer, healthy root
action is encouraged, and they are in a better condition
to receive such artificial manures, and to facilitate their
assimilation by the roots. Then on the lighter soils die
conservation of moisture, and their greater compactibility,
enable the artificials to be held in reserve till the roots can
assimilate them, instead of being washed into the subsoil.
All authorities are agreed, however, that it is unwise to
use farmj'ard dung too liberally. It has a tendency to pro-
duce over-luxuriance, and to subject a crop to disease in
wet seasons. It is clear, therefore, that farmyard dung
should only be used in moderate quantities, and for a
mechanical, rather than a chemical reason.
Phosphatic Manures. — Experiments have already
demonstrated that phosphates in som? form are absolutely
necessary for the successful culture of the potato; in fact,
all the special compound manures prepared for potatoes
contain superphosphate. As previously pointed out, there
are several forms of phosphatic manures, and the question
to be decided here is, which is the best form of phosphate
to use. Well, on soils that are known to contain a fair
quantity of lime, the acid phosphates — superphosphate
and dissolved bones — are best ; while on those that contain
no lime, such as peats and clays, non-acid phosphates —
basic slag, bone-meal, or Peruvian guano — are more suit-
able. The two first act more rapidly, however, than the
latter.
Potash Manures. — There seems to be a difference of
opinion among experts as to the value of potash as a
38 • THE POTATO.
potato maiiurc. It is, however, universallv agrfecl that
potash manures should not be used indiscriminately for
the purpose. Clay soils, for instance, usually contain suffi-
cient potash to meet the requirements of the potato. On
such a soil it would be well to experiment with its use,
and ascertain if it be wise economy to apply it to any
extent. We ad^'ise this course because, although a clay
soil may contain potash, the latter is not always available
for the crop. On light, chalky, and peaty soils, potash
is indispensable. Three forms of potash are available —
kainit, muriate (chloride), and sulphate of potash. The
former is the cheapest form of potash, and, as it contains
a small proportion of magnesium salts, it supplies ^^■hat
little may be required of the latter. It is, however, slow
in action, and requires to be applied either in jvinter or in
early spring to be of the greatest value to the crop. Muri-
ate or chloride of potash is often advised as a good potato
manure. It is richer in potash than kainit, one ton being
equal to four of the latter, and the price is correspondingly
higher. Sulphate of potash is also richer in potash than
kainit, and dearer. The muriate is similar in action to
kainit, but, owing to its liability to form calcium chloride
in the soil, a substance harmful to plant life, it is not alto-
gether a safe form of potash to use. Then again, it is said
to have a tendency to cause waxiness in the tubers. Sul-
phate of potash, on the other hand, is a perfectly safe form
of potash, and, unlike kainit, it may be applied at the time
of planting.
Sulphate of Iron — Dr. A. B. Griffiths is the auiho-
rity who so firmly believes in, and so strenuously advo-
cates, the use of sulphate of iron as an ingredient in potato
manure formulas. In his " Treatise on Manures " {Whit-
aker and Co.), he plainly demonstrates its value, not only
as an aid to obtaining a greater yield of tubers, but also as
a preventative of the potato disease. According to his
statements, an application- of iron sulphate -will gi\e a
greater yield than one of kainit, He asserts, moreover,
40 THE POTATO.
that in the experiments made u'ith ];ainit and iron sul-
phate, in the plot dressed with the former the i-rop was
diseased, «diile that grown in the plot dressed -^^dth the
latter was quite free from disease. We must eertairdy say,
as the residt of our own and others' experiments \\ith the
use of iron sulphate on crops and plants, that there is
some justification for Dr. Griffiths' claim as to its maniu-ial
value.
Nitrogenous Manures. — Apart from farmyard
manure, sulphate of am.monia and nitrate of soda are the
chief nitrogenous manures required for the potatu cro]i.
Of the two, nitrate of soda is the one generally used. In
any case, this is best in dry seasons and on dry soils. Sul-
phate of ammonia is more suitable for damp soils and
wet seasons. It is said that when farmyard manure has
been liberally used, sulphate of ammonia has the effect of
causing the plants to make smaller tubers. On the \\dif)le,
it is deemed best to applj" the latter only on damp soils in
wet seasons, or where farmyard manure has been used.
Neither nitrate of soda nor sulphate of ammonia must be
used too freely, as they promote a too luxuriant growth,
and predispose the plants to disease. Soot and malt dust
are excellent nitrogenous manures for potato culture, espe-
cially for early crops. Both should be applied along the
drills just before planting. From eight to ten cwt. of malt
dust, of fifty to eighty bushels of soot per acre, will be
a suitaiile dressing.
Guano. — The various forms of Peruvian guano, such as
those rich in phosphates, may be used at planting time,
while those richer in nitrogen are valuable for top-dressing.
Fish guano acts more slowly, but is useful at planting
time.
Formulae for Field and Garden Crops. So
much for a description of the various ingredients generally
used in the composition of potato manures, and now we
MANURES AND MANURING.
41
will give 11 miinher nf
potato manures : —
Qnautity
Per
Formal.
a. M.aimrc.
Ijer Aciv.
Sqnare Rod.
No.
J.
Farmyard Manure ...
12 tons .
.. li cwt. ..
Nitrate of Soda
l^cwt. .
.. rib. ..
tiuperphosphato
:i cwt. .
.. 3 lbs. ..
Muriate of Potash ...
1 mi. .
.. 1 lb. ..
No.
2,
Kaiiiit
1 cwt. .,
,. 1 lb. ..
Nitrate of Soda
1 cwt. .,
.. 1 lb. ..
Iron Sulphate
t, cwt. .
.. 6 0Z.S.
Superphosphate
3 cwt. ..
.. IJlbi. ..
No.
3.
Superphosphate
2 cwt. .
_ 3 lbs. ..
Sulphate of Ammonia
1 cwt. .
.. 1 lb. ..
Kainit
2 mt. ..
. lUbs. ..
No.
4.
Superphosphate
3 cwt. ..
. ?,' lbs. ..
Sulphate of Ammonia
1 cwt. ..
. 1 lb. ..
Kainit
1 cwt. ..
. 1 lb. ,.
Sulphate of Soda . . .
1 cwt. ..
. 1 lb. ...
No.
.5.
Basic Slag
12 cwt. ..
. 9 lbs. ..
Kainit
6 cwt. .
. 4 lbs. ..
Sulphate of Ammon'a
1 cwt. ,.
. 1 lb. ..
No.
6.
Superphosphate
3 cwt. ..
. 3 Ib^. ..
Sulphate of Potash...
U cwt. ..
. )i lbs. ..
Nitrate of Soda
1 cwl. ..
. Tib. ...
formulio recommended as ideal
When to
Appl.T.
Autumn.
Late Spring.
Planting Time.
Autumn.
Autumn.
Late Spring.
Late Spring.
Planting Time.
, Planting Time.
Late Spring.
Autumn.
Planting Time.
Late Spring.
Autumn.
Late Spring.
Autumn.
Autumn.
Late Spring.
Planting Time.
Planting Time.
Late Spring.
—It will be observed that
in the first formula only.
Remarks re Formulae.
farmyard manure is included
The others maj^ be used with or without farmyard manure
If a soil is well supplied with manures, farmyard manure
is not essential. For general purposes, No. 1 or No. 2 may
have the preference. Nos. 3 and 4 come in useful in damp
seasons, as the ammonia is then the best form of nitrogen
to use. No. 5 is especially suitable for heavy soils, and
No. 6 is an excellent mixture to use where the phosphates
and potash can only be applied at planting time.
How and When to Apply Manures. — Farmyard
manure should be ploughed or dug in during autumn or
winter, not put in the rows, as is sometimes done at the
time of planting. Kainit takes a long time to dissolve,
therefore should be applied at the time of ploughing. The
sf.me remarks apply to muriate of potash. Sulphate of
potash may be applied at planting time, sprinkling it along
42 THE POTATO.
the drills. Sujicrpliospliate should be applied at planting
time, applying as advised for the sulphate of potash.
Nitrate of soda and sulphate i")f ammonia are best used as
top-dressings when the shaws are a few inches high.
Lime. — There is no doubt that lime is an excellent
material to apply to land about to be cropped with pota-
toes. It is a valuable substance for mechanicallj- improv-
ing the condition of soils. Mechanically it renders cday
soil more pliable and less plastic, and, in the case of light
soils, helps to f)ind the particles together, and thus render
them less susceptible to drought. Chemically, lime
sweetens sour soils, such as those of a peaty nature, or
that ha\-e been heavilj' manured generation after genera-
tion. ^Moreover, it unlocks the inert fertility of a soil, and
sets free potash for the food of the crops. Further, it acts
upon "vegetable acids and liberates ammonia, encourages
the formation of nitrates in the soil, and generalljr forms an
excellent plant food. Then again, lime in its caustic con-
dition destroys the various insect and fungoid pests in the
soil, and is, therefore, of great value all round. Lime is
best applied hi its caustic or " quick " form to heavy clay
and sour soils, and in the form of fine chalk to light soils.
As it quickly sinks in the soil it should be applied in small
doses at frequent mtervals, rather than large doses at long
intervals. Quicklime may be applied in winter or early
spring, at the rate of one to two tons per acre ; and chalk
at the rate of three to five tons per acre in winter. The
former dose should be repeated every five or six years, and
the latter every eight or nine years. Quicklime should be
slaked and immediately ploughed or harro\^-ed in, not left
on the surface of the soil, otherwise its caustic properti-'S
and chemical and mechanical value will be lost, or
Weakened.
Seaweed — This is an excellent manure for potatoes
where it can be easily and cheaply obtained. It contains
from four to twenty per cent, of potash, and about three
Main'Ceop Oval Potato — Up-to-Date.
First Early Kidney Potato — Nixetyfold.
■14
THE POTATO.
per cent of nitrogen. It is Ijest dug or plouglied into tlio
land in autumn, at tlie rate of 40 to 50 tons per acre.
Some Interesting Irish Experiments — The
Irisli Department of Agriculture made some interesting ex-
periments at various centres in 1901, 1902, and 1903, to
test tile values of ai'tificial and farmyard manures in rela-
tion to the yield of potatoes. These we reproduce, as
follows : —
Plat-
Manure applied per Statute
Acre.
A vera tre
[Total Yield
j nf Potatoes
' per Statute
! Acre.
Increase
dae to
Manures.
Cost of
Manures.
Estimated
Profl- piu'
SUtute
Acre.*
' Tons
OsTt.
Tons
Cwt.
£ s.
d.
£•
s. (i.
1
No Manure
1
-
-
—
—
2
"} tons Farmyard Manure
S
2
5
1
4
5
14
3
]5 tons Farmyard Manure
7
y
4,
8
3
5
9
4
15 tons Farmyard Mannre, Icwt.
Sulphate of Ammonia
1
8
6
6
5
3 12
6
6
8 6
5
15 tonn Farmyard Manure, Icwt.
Sulphate of Ammonia, 4 cwt.
Superptiosphate
9
10
6
9
4 5
6
s
2 G
6
15 toES Farmyard Mannrp, 1 cwt.
Sulphate of Ammonia, 4 cwt.
Suiierphoaphate, 1 cwt. Muri-
ate ot I otaah
1
10
5
7
i
4 16
9
2
7
15 tons Farmyard Manure
'
6
'
5
3
5
4
* The Talae of saleable potatoes is taken at X'2 per ton, and of the small potatoes
£1 per ton.
" In calculating the profits obtained the following prices
have been assigned to the different manures: — Farmyard
manure, 4s. per ton; sulphate of ammonia, £12 10s. per
ton; superphosphate, £3 5s. per ton, and muriate of
potash, £10 10s. per ton.
" The figures in the above table indicate — first, that
each application of manure has produced a large increase
in the crop; second, that the application of 13 tons farm-
yard manure has produced a crop ^\hicli is not three-(]uar-
MANURES AND MANURING.
45
lers of a ton less than that produced by the application of
20 tons farmyard manure; and third, that on each of the
plots 4, 5, and 6, the addition of artificial manures to the
lighter dressing of dung has yielded a larger crop than the
heavier dressing of dung yielded.
" It may be urged, and justh' so, that it is a mistake
to charge the potato crop with the full value of the farm-
yard manure. But whether the full value, or only haJf
of the value, of the farmyard manure is charged to the
potato crop, the result is the same, viz., the use of arti-
ficial manures along with 15 tons farmyard manure has
in each case left a greater profit per acre than the use of
20 tons farmyard manure alone. These experiments, there-
fore, seem to justify the conclusion that, as a general
rule, and particularly where farmyard manure is limited
in amount, farmers would be well advised to apply the '
latter in more moderate quantities, and to supplement it
with suitable artificial manures.
" That leads to the further question arising out of the
experiments : — What artificial manures should be used in
supplementing a moderate dressing of farmyard manure?
An answer is furnished from the figures contained in the
followino; table : —
Plot.
Manure snpplied per Stit^ti
Acre.
Total
Yield of
Potatoes
per Acre.
15 tons Farmyard Manure
] 5 tons Farmyard Manure, 1 cwt.
Snlphatc of Ammonia
15 tons Farroyflrd Manure, lewt.
Sulphate of Ammonia, -t cwt.
Superphosphate
15 tonp Farmyard Mann re, 1 cwt
Sulphate of Ammonia, 4 cwt.
Superphosphate, 1 cwt. Muri-
ate of Potash
. Cwt.
9
10
Increase
iver Tield
from 15
tonsDung.
Cost of Estimated
Manures ' Profit
in excess from u?e
of 15 tons nf
Dung. lArtificials
£ s. d. £ s. d.
12 6 19 6
15 6 2 13 6
1 16 3 13
46
THE POTATO.
" These figures show that the mixture of artificial
manures required to supplement a moderate application
of dung should be complete, i.e., it should contain nitro-
gen, phosphorus, and potassium. The omission of muriate
of potash caused a reduction in the profit obtained of
almost £1 per acre, while the further omission of the super-
phosphate reduced the profit by 34s. more.
" The foregoing conclusions are very considerably
strengthened when the results of last year's experiments
■are compared with those of similar experiments conducted
during the two previous years. This comparison can be
made from the following table : —
1901.
1902.
1903.
Manures applied per
tetatote Acre.
Total
Yield of
Estimated
Profit
from use
of
Manures.
Total
Yield of
Eatimated
Profit
Total
Yield ot
Estimated
Prolit
Potatoes
Potatoes
from use
of
Manures.
Potatoes
from use
per Acre.
per Acre.
per Aci-e.
of
Manures.
Tons. Owt.
£ s. d.
Tons. Cwt.
£ s. d.
Tons. Cwt.
£ s. d.
Ko Manure.-.
4 4
4 7 —
3 1
20 tons Farmyard
Manure ...
10 13
8 11
8 18
4 16
8 2 ■
5 14
15 tons Farmyard
Manure ...
9 15
7 14
7 19
4 3
7 9
5 9
15 tons Farmjard
Manure, 1 cwt.
Sulphate of Am-
monia
10 16
8 2 6
8 19
5 6 B
8 6
6 « C
15 tons Farmyard
1
Manure, 1 cwt.
Hulphato of Am-
monia, 4 cwt.
Superphosphate..
11 12
10 3
9 16
6 3 6
9 10
8 2 C
15 tons Farmyard
Manure, 1 cwt.
Sulphate of Am-
monia, 4 cwt.
■-; :
Superphosphate,
1 cwt. Muriate of
Potash ...
12 1
10 _1
10 11
7 5
10 5
9 2
Scottish Experiments in Manuring^. The re-
port for the year 1901 of some extensive trials in manuring
potatoes, carried out on fifteen farms in different parts of
I
Cm
a
03
48 THE POTATO.
Scotland, was recently issued by Professor ^A'right, of the
West of Scotland Agricultural College. Although very
much delayed, the report has considerable interest at this
time on account of the great boom in potato culture, when
many growers are trying to get the largest possible yield
from small quantities of the seed of new varieties. The
experiments have, for the most part, been carried out over
a period of four years, and on a great varietj- of soils. On
each of the farms the same set of twelve different manurial
dressings was tried, the plots receiving some farmyard
manure alone, some artificials alone, and others various
combinations of the two. The general results show that
the best dressing was one consisting of 10 tons of farm-
yard manure, 4 cwt. of superphosphate of lime, 1 cwt. of
sulphate of ammonia, and li cwt. of sulphate of potash
per acre. The use of an extra 10 tons of farmyard manure
instead of the artificials produced a smaller yield at a
greater cost. When artificial manures alone were used
the best combination was one of 6 cwt. of superphosphate,
2 cwt. of sulphate of ammonia, 2 cwt. of sulphate of
potash, and 1 cwt. of nitrate of soda. The last-named
was applied as a top-dressing after the growth appeared
above the ground, just before earthing up was done.
Some Eng:lish Experiments — Experiments in the
manuring of potatoes, carried out by the Durham College
of Science, have led to the following conclusions, which
form a useful summary of this important subject: 1.
During 1903 potash proved, in the majority of cases, to
be the most important ingredient for potatoes, muriate of
potash proving the most satisfactory potash manure. 2.
Nitrogen in all cases proved of great value, and should be
included in all mixtures for this crop. 3. Phosphates,
although generally of less importance than potash and
nitrogen, are necessary on certain classes of soils. 4. When
artificials are used alone it is best to apply a " complete "
dressing. 5. Dung alone gave better results than artificials
alone,' but their relative effects depend largely upon cir-
PROPAGATION. 49
cumstances. 6. As a rule, it is profitable to use dung and
artificials together in moderate quantities, and, on the
whole, this may h^. regarded as the mo^^t economical way
of manuring the potato crop. 7. As dung varies so much
in composition, it is safest in the majority of cases to use
" complete " artificials with it, although nitrogen appears
to be more important in this connection than the other
ingredients.
CHAPTER VI.
PROPAGATION.
A GOOD deal of attention has been paid to the subject of
propagating potatoes by cuttings and eyes, during the last
year or two, more especially in regard to new varieties,
which raisers and purchasers desired to obtain a large stock
of as speedily as possible. There is nothing new in the
method of propagation of the potato by cuttings ; it has
been practised by our forebears in generations past, as we
have pointed out in the opening chapter of this Handbook.
But the system has nevei^ met with popular favour among
growers till the " boom " recently set in, and then it was
revived with a considerable amount of energy by raisers
and growers of recently introduced sorts. There seems,
however, to be a great diversity of opinion among potato
experts as to whether the system is a wise one or not.
Some assert that it has a deteriorating effect upon the
stock, weakening both the stamina of the tubers and their
yielding properties. Others, again, assert that the system
50 THE POTATO.
does uot afifect the stamina or the yield of the crop; but,
as sufficient time has not yet elapsed to clearly demon-
strate its good or bad effects, it would be premature, per-
haps, to express a decided opinion upon it, one way or
the other. Physiologically, we hold the opinion that the
yield from a cutting cannot be as perfect in stamina or
quality as that from a properly prepared tuber or set.
Each tuber or set is composed of cells, containing food
stored up for the sustenance and support of the shoot or
shoots it may in due course put forth, and when the tuber
is placed in the earth, and growth begins, such shoot or
shoots have a supply of food to enable them to make vigor-
ous, healthy growth, until they are able, by means of their
own roots, to collect food on their own account. Now, a
plant which has been thus nourished in its early stage of
growth must naturally be more vigorous and fruitful than
one which has been reared from a cutting, which is de-
prived at an early stage from deriving support from its
parent, and has to put forth roots of its own to maintain
its existence. However, the matter is one which requires
to be put to a series of practical tests to determine whether
the produce of cuttings is really inferior to that obtained
from sets.
Since writing the foregoing we find, from the following
facts published in the " Gardeners' Magazine," that ex-
periments have been made with potatoes grown from cut-
tings, cut, and whole tubers: — " The very high prices paid
for the newer varieties of potatoes have resulted in their
rapid propagation from cuttings. This is thought by many
cultivators to be harmful to the variety and likely to
materially impair its vigour of growth. In order to deter-
mine the effect of intensive propagation on the vigour and
productiveness of varieties, an experiment was commenced
at the Harper- Adams' Agricultural College under the aus-
pices of the Education Committee of the Staffordshire and
Shropshire County Councils last year. In carrying out the
experiment three plots of ground were planted with : 1 ,
whole sets; 2, cut sets; 3, plants from cuttings. The
s''-^^'
\^
2;
I
52 THE POTATO.
variety selected was Northern Star, -which it is stated
had ah'eady been subjected to considerable propagation.
Tlie ^^•hole and cut sets were planted May 6, and the cut-
tings were grown on in a cold frame, and planted out early
in June. The rows were three feet apart, and tlie plants
eighteen inches apart in the rows. The ground was in
good condition, and the addition of manure was not con-
sidered necessary. The plants grew rapidly, and from the
appearance of the haulm it was not possible to see any
difference in the plots. The rhizomes grew strongly, and
when the crop ^^-as lifted in October the ridges were matted
with rhizomes. The following is the yield per acre: Xo. 1
(whole sets) 18 tons 2cwts. Oqrs. lUbs. ; No. 2 (cut sets,
single eyes), 16 tons Icwt. 2(irs. 121bs. ; and No. 3 (cut-
tings), 17 tons lOcwts. 2qrs. 191bs. It will thus be seen
that the total yield from the cuttings was intermediate be-
tween the produce from the whole and cut sets. The
yield of tubers of ware size from the cuttings was larg'T,
wliile the yields of " seed " and chats were correspond-
ingly smaller. "
According to this, the potato is more fruitful fronr whole
" sets " than from cut " sets " or cuttings, thus bearing
out the views expressed by us in our opiening remarks.
By Seed. — This is a method which should only be
adopted when new varieties are desired, as the result of
careful cross-fertilisation. With the latter subject we shall
not concern ourselves, as that will be dealt with in Chap-
ter XVI. Here we shall simply deal with the sowing o+'
the seed. The seed here referred to is the actual seed
obtained from the berries borne on the haulm, and not the
tubers or sets, often called " seed-tubers," used for plant-
ing. The seeds should be sown in pans or shallow boxes
three inches deep, containing an mch of drainage and then
a layer of moss, and sufficient compost — equal parts light
loam and leaf-mould — to fill the box or pan to the top.
Press the compost down firmly with a fiat piece of board,
and sprinkle some fine sand over it. Sow the seeds thinly,
PROPAGATION. 53
and then cover with an eighth of an inch of fineh' sifted
mould. Lightly press the surface again, and cover the box
or pan with a pane of glass. The pans or boxes may be
placed in a sunny, cold frame, or in a cool greenhouse.
Shade from sun with a sheet of paper. Watch the sur-
face of the mould daily, and directly it shows signs of
getting in the feast degree dry, give it a gentle watering.
The soil must not be allowed to get too dry or too wet, and
this is why it is better not to give water at the time of
sowing. Too much moisture, moreover, will cause the
seeds to rot. In ten days to a fortnight the seedlings p. ill
begin to appear, and then the glass must be tilted a little
to admit air. As soon as the seedlings show themselves
freely, remove the glass. When the third leaf forms, care-
fully transplant each one into a thumb pot. The compost
for this purpose should consist of equal parts of good soil
and leaf-mould, with a fair amount of sand. Do not press
the soil too closely in the pot. Stand the seedlings not far
from the glass, and attend carefully to watering and air-
ing during the day. As soon as the seedlings are nicely
rooted, shift them into three-inch pots, and keep in the
frame till all danger of frost is past; then plant out in p
good and properly prepared plot of ground to produce their
first crop of tubers. When the crop has reached maturity,
lift the roots, and keep each one separate. Examine them
carefully, selecting only those of great promise to grow
again, and discarding the remainder. Probably two-thirds
of the roots will be useless. Store the selected tubers,
and plant these out in the ordinary way the following
spring. In due course, lift and examine the produce,
selecting the best as before and rejecting the remainder.
Proceed thus year after year, for four or five years, until
-you may perhaps get one, or, at the most, two, varieties
that promise to be distinct improvements on existing
kinds. The best time to sow is in March or April. It is a
good plan also to bake the soil used for covering the seeds,
in order to prevent the " damping off " fungus from de-
veloping and destroying the young seedlings.
64
THE POTATO.
By Eyes. — This method is, hke that of cuttings, prac-
tised where new and clioice varieties are required to be
increased in quantity. Fig. 1 is a good and suitable set for
any purpose. It has been properly treated during the
winter by being exposed to light and air. It has also been
nonT.t-.
t 6
How TO Propagate the Potato.
References. — 7ig. 1, A good set for any purpose. Fi^. 2, How to take the eyes outi
Fig. 3, Eye removed and ready to pot. Fig. 4, Cntliog ready to pot. Fig. 5'
How to pot a cnttiug. Fig. 6, How to pot an eye.
keep from sprouting too early. February is quite soon
enough for seed potatoes to begin to sprout, unless re-
quired for forcing. About the beginning of February the
PROPAGATION. 55
boxes containing the sets — for they should have been
placed in boxes at the time of lifting — should be placed
in a light and somewhat warm house or room, where they
will soon begin to sprout, and when the sprouts (Fig. 1a)
are three-quarters of an inch in length, each shoot should
be taken out as shown at Figs. 2 and 3, and be potted as
at Fig. 6. Use finely sifted soil, but before these eyes
are potted the cut parts should have been allowed to dry
for a few hours, in order to prevent decay. If, however,
the eyes are potted as soon as cut out, dip the cut parts in
powdered charcoal and lime, this will do something to-
wards preventing decay. These eyes will soon form roots,
and make sturdy plants, filling the little pots with roots,
when they should be transferred to larger sizes, using good
soil. The pots should be placed in a greenhouse or warm
frame near the glass, and be carefully watered. Every
endeavour should be made to keep the plants sturdy. Do
not allow them to become drawn and weakly. As soon as
the danger of severe frost is over for the season, they
should be placed in cool frames and kept near the glass,
but the light must be covered securely against frost, as
they will not stand a single degree. Air must be given
freely when the weather is favourable, and also on warm
nights to cause a sturdy growth. Watering must be very
carefully attended to, using tepid water for the purpose.
By Cutting^s — This is an old method, but it has come
into fashion lately, owing to the advent of the high-priced
varieties, and the desire to make as many plants as pos-
sible from a tuber. It is a plan which should only be
adopted in the case of new or rare sorts. There is no
difficulty in propagating potatoes thus ; yet a few impor-
tant points require consideration. The tubers may be laid
out singly and exposed to the light and air as early as con-
venient, and at any time in February they may be put
into a warm house. A temperature of from 55 degrees to
65 degrees will be quite warm enough to promote growth.
We have found them do well when laid out on a border in a
56 THE POTATO.
vmery or peach-house that was shut up for starting. ^^' e
have seen the tubers covered with hght soil ; but tiiey are
better laid on the ground, as when covered they make
roots too freely. The shoots (Fig. 4) should be taken off
when they are about two and a-half inches long. It is a
mistake to take them too soon. Potted singly, in three-
inch or four-inch pots (Fig. 5) they will soon make a new
start, and should be removed to a cooler house or a pit,
before they begin to draw up. It should be added that the
shoots must be taken off quite close to the tubers ; this
ensures a greater number of roots starting from the stem,
and may make some difference in the number of tubers
that T\ill be produced from the roots. The stock tubers
will soon start again, and a good manj' cuttings maj- be
had from each one before planting time. A great point is
to avoid getting the shoots drawn up weakly; so, if there
is any sign of this, they may be removed to a cooler posi-
tion or to where they can get more light. After they are
potted they require a little care in watering, as the roots
must be kept perfecth' healthy. Those started early may
require larger pots.
By Cut Tubers — This is a method often adopted in
the case of large tubers used as " sets." It is, however,
far wiser to use medium-sized whole sets than to cut
larger ones. In the first place, it is wasteful to use tubers
as " sets " that are fit for food ; and secondlj', the resultant
yield is never so good from cut as whole sets. These re-
marks applj' to English potatoes. In Scotland cut tubers
have been found to do as well as whol.e tubers. Still, if a
grower has plenty of " ware " tubers that he cannot con-
sume or dispose of, and medium-sized whole " sets " are
scarce, there is no reason why he should not divide the
large tubers into two or more portions. Each portion
should contain at least two " eyes," in case one should get
injured. The cutting should be done just before planting,
and the wounded surfaces immediately rubbed in pow-
dered lime to seal up the cells and prevent loss of sap.
o
H
58
THE POTATO.
Those who cut the tubers a long time in advance, and
let them remain in a heap, make a great mistake, as this
means a loss of reserve food through the oozing out of
sap from the wounds, and consequent weakly growth.
Although the broad or rose end of the tuber will produce
Cutting a Potato so as to Propagate from each Eye.
the stroirgest eyes and subsequent growth, yet the narrow,
or "heel" end should not be despised if the stock of
" sets " be limited. Where specially good results are re-
quired, it will be well to allow onlj- two shoots to develop
PROPAGATION. 59
on each cut " set," remoTing the others. The accompany-
ing sketch shows a method of cutting up a tuber into as
many " sets " as possible. In this case, every eye is used,
and consequently many of them are very small indeed.
The dotted lines show hoxv each set is cut from the tuber.
We only advise this plan in the case of a very choice sort
which it is desired to make as many of as possible.
CHAPTEK VII.
TUBERS OR "SETS" FOR PLANTING.
The subject of size of " sets " for planting, and their treat-
ment previous to planting, is of sufficient importance to
be considered in a separate chapter. There is, among
growers, a diversity of opinion as to whether small,
medium, or large tubers are best to use as " sets," but
there are no two opinions about the wisdom of paying pro-
per attention to the " boxing " and " sprouting " of the
tubers intended to be used as " sets." However, we will
deal fully with both matters.
Size of " Sets " or " Seed Tubers." — Some
growers use the smallest type of tubers known as " chats."
This, of course, is done from motives of economy, the
largest tubers being used for cooking or sold. Now, such
small tubers have necessarily weak eyes, which will in
turn give birth to weakly shoots and a poor crop of inferior
tubers. Unless, therefore, the variety be a scarce or ex-
pensive one, it is an unwise policy to use tubers of the
smaller or " chat " size as " sets." Such tubers are far
60
THE POTATO.
more profitabl.y utilised for stock or poultry feeding. We
now come to the relative advantages of medium-sized and
large tubers. In practice, we always found the former to
yield the most satisfactory results. The same opinion,
too, is shared by other growers. Tubers that average be-
tween 11 and 2in. in width, and weigh 2 to 3oz. each, are
undoubtedly the best for "sets." These contain suffi-
ciently strong eyes to give birth to vigorous shoots, and
Maximum- SIZED Kidney Seed Tubek.
Widih 2 ins. ; Weight 2J oz.
the tuber contains an ample supply of reserve food to sup-
port the shoot till it is able to forage for itself. As to
larger tubers we regard it as a waste of valuable food to
use them as " sets." A large tuber will not give a pro-
portionately larger yield of tubers than a medium-sized
one. It must be remembered also, that in using large
tubers a greater quantity will be required to plant a given
area of land than of the medium-size(J " sets." It is more
profitable to use the large tubers for food or to dispose of
TUBERS OR "SETS" FOR PLANTING. 61
them. Nor is it a v/ise plan to cut up large tubers for
"sets," unless the grower is short of the proper size..
Our advice to growers is, therefore, use medium-sized
whole tubers that will pass through a 2in. mesh,
but not less than a lAin. mesh. A trifle larger will
not matter, but on no account let a smaller size be used.
The weight of the right sized tuber should be 2 to 3oz.,
not more. We give illustrations of four tubers of approxi-
mately actual size, to afford an idea of the minimum and
maximum size of tuber to select.
Minimum-sized Kidney Seed Tobeb..
"Width IJ ina. ; Weight U oz.
Chang'e of Seed. — Every gardener and farmer knows
that if he uses home-saved tubers for " sets " for several
years in succession his crop deteriorates in yield and
quality annually. Porty years ago this fact was known
even to the cottager. " A change of seed " is indispens-
able. The Scotch farmers who came south years ago and
obtained their supply of " seed tubers " from their native
land, were able to grow much finer crops than the English
62
THE POTATO.
farmer, who relied upon his "change of seed" from a
neighbour only. Hence of late years, it has become a re-
cognised fact 'that it is wise to get fresh " seed tubers "
from another county, or even from Scotland, to ensure
success. What is wanted is " seed " from an entirely
different soil and climate. As to how long it is profitable
to continue to gro^v home-saved " seed " depends a good
deal upon the variety and the soil it is grown in. There
Maximum-sized Round Seid Tuber.'
Width 2 ins. ; Weight 2 oz. <See pp. 60 and 61.)
is no doubt, however, that a change should be made every
third year at least.
Boxing the Tubers — We conre to the important
subject of boxing and sprouting the tubers intended for
"sets." As previously remarked, there is no question
about the wisdom of the practice. The old-time 'practice
of placing the tubers in a heap, and allowing them to be-
TUBERS OR "SETS" FOR PLANTING.
63
come sprouted into a tangled mass of shoots no longer
obtains, except where ignorance of the proper method
prevails. The up-to-date method is to place the seed
tubers, after they are lifted and become dry, direct into
shallow boxes, like the one figured. The kidney tubers
are placed on their narrow or " heel " ends in rows across
the box till it is full. The round ones, with the parts con-
taining the most eyes upwards, in a similar fashion. These
boxes are then stored in a cool, airy loft or shed, where
;MlUIMtJM-STZED ROBND SeED TuBER.
Width U ine. ; Weight li oz. (See pp. 60 and 61.)
frost can be kept from them. Plenty of Hght is admitted
at all times, and when the turn of the year arrives, the
boxes may be placed in a still lighter position ; in fact,
stood outdoors in fine weather. This plan ensures the
tubers getting plenty of air, prevents premature growth,
and ensures, when February and March arrives, plump,
healthy tubers, with one or two dark green sturdy shoots.
There is no exhaostion of the tubers by the production of
64
THE POTATO.
weakly shoots ; all its energies are reserved for the fulfil-
ment of its proper mission, supplying food to the sl'oot
which is to form the future plant, and in due course jdeld
a crop of tubers.
The plan is often practised of spreading the tubers in
a layer on the floor of a loft or room. Even if light be
iiiiiIs;:::,.:;'A :ia
Mode of Boxing " Seed " Tueeks.
admitted, the close contiguity of the tubers promotes pre-
mature sprouting, and each tuber is often produciug
several shoots like the example figured on p. 66. Boxes
like the one figured are so easily made that it is unwise
to store the tubers in the rough and ready way mentioned.
Speouting Tubers in an ordinaey Shjillow Box.
There is another great advantage in the use of boxes, and
that is, as the tubers are placed in them at the time of
lifting, they require no further handling till they are
planted in the rows. Then, there is a still further advan-
tage in sprouting the tubers in boxes. You get the one
J
H
66
THE POTATO.
or two sturdy shoots as shown on p. 68, and these in
due course will give not only a heavier, but a finer crop
Potato Tcieer Impeopeely Sprouted.
Crop Resulting ntoM Planting Impeopeblt Sprouted Tubek.
of tubers than would a plant reared from a tuber will
many weak sprouts. See p. 69.
Maincrop Round Potato — The Provost.
Maincrop Kidney I'otato— The J^obleman.
F 2
6S
THe POTATO.
Where the quantitj' of seed tubers is so great that they
cannot be stored in boxes, but must perforce be stored in
pits or outliouses, then we would urge the importance of
frequently turning the tubers over, so as to prevent
" s,weating," premature growth, and often the spread of
decay and disease. Even when thus stored it is mani-
festly advantageous to remove the tubers into boxes in
February, if not earlier, and expose them to the light, so
that they make the sturdy, dark green shoots that are so
eminently desirable for securing first-class crops.
Potato Tuber Peopeklt Sprouted.
In the management of tubers in boxes care should be
taken to look over them occasionally, to see that there
are no diseased tubers. If the tubers show an inclination
to sprout too rapidly, let them have all the light and air
possible. If they are backward, keep them dark and
warm.
TUBERS OR "SETS" FOR PLANTING. 69
Irish Experiments in Boxing and Sprouting:.
— The Irish Department of Agriculture, a body which looks
keenly after the interests of agriculturists in the Emerald
Isle, conducted a series of valuable experiments last year
with a vieiv of ascertaining what advantages, if any, were
Ckop Rfsultikg fkom Planting Propebly Spkodted Tueeb.
to be gainsd in the yield of potatoes by boxing and sprout-
ing the " sets " before planting. The experiments were
carried out with late or maincrop varieties, and the aver-
age yields per acre at the thirty-four experimental stations
were as follows :
From " boxed " seed —
Saleable ware 9 tons 15 cwt.
Small 1 ton 11 cwt.
From unsprouted seed —
Saleable ware 7 tons 3 cwt.
Small 1 ton 10 cwt.
Average increase per "acre due to sprouting, 2 tons
13 cwt.
These figures show that the yield from the boxed tubers
70 THE POTATO.
amounted to 25 per cent, over that from the unboxed and
unsprouted tubers. Some of the tubers were boxed in
the autumn and others in February and March. The De-
partment remarks: " The chief advantage of sprouting is
that a few weeks' growth is secured in the boxes before
the seed is planted. Consequently if the two kinds of
seed are planted about the same time, the crop from the
sprouted seed is ready for lifting several weeks before that
of the unsprouted seed. Again, if a farmer has seed
sprouted, and the soil is wet and cold or the conditions un-
favourable, he may delay planting for a time. Further,
on freshly-tilled land the sprouted potatoes make such an
extremely rapid growth as smothers the weeds for the
whole season.
Another advantage gained bj" sprouting is that the first
bud is presei-ved, and the plant is therefore more vigorous
throughout the season, whereas with unboxed seed the
first bud when it exists is tender and usually gets broken
off."
Boxes for Storing: and Sprouting: — The illus-
trations on p. 71 show a suitable form of box for the
above purpose. The box is handy for lifting about, and,
as a considerable number can be piled upon each other,
large quantities of potatoes can be stored in a compara-
tively small space. The most useful size is 27 inches long,
18 inches wide, and Sh inches deep. The sides and ends
should be formed with deal |-inch in thickness, and the
bottom with f-inch deal 2 inches wide, and fixed 1
inch apart. The uprights and the crosspieces forming the
handles should be of deal, 1 inch square, and the former
should be screwed to the sides, and screws should be used
in fastening the crosspieces. As shown, the boxes can
be stood one upon the other without excluding
the light, or interfering with the free circulation of the air,
a point of great importance in the case of potatoes for plant-
ing. On page 72 is represented another form of box, which
may be made as follows: The measurements are 2ft. long,
TUBERS OR "SETS" FOR PLANTING. 71
Iffc. wide, and 7in. high. The wood used is as follows:
Sides and bottom-pieces, Sin. by fin., and end-pieces, Sin.
by -Jin. The corner-pieces are IJin. square. The handle
A Handy Potato Spkouting Box.
is also made of IJin. square stuS, and is inserted in holes
bored in the end-pieces, and kept in place by a nail driven
into each end. As will be seen, the bottom-pieces do not
Boxes fok Storing and Spbouting Potatoes.
Fig. 1, A Single Box. Fig. 2. A Nest of three Boxes stored one on the other.
touch each other, but a small space is left between for
ventilation. Three strips will be required if the bottom is
put on, as in the illustration, lengthways, or six if put on
72
THE POTATO.
crossways. The wood can now be obtained from most
box-makers ready cut into lengths. These trays are filled
with a layer of seed tubers, and stacked one above another
Another form of Potato Spkodtinq Box.
in any light shed from which frost can be excluded by
means of lamps or coverings.
^sfe
7t THE POTATO.
CHAPTER VIII.
SYSTEMS OF PLANTING.
There are three systems in vogue, the drill, fiat, and
" lazy-bed," the latter a method pecuUar to Ireland. The
drill system is the one most generally adopted, both on
the farm and in the garden.
The Drill System. — In the garden the drills are
usually drawn four to five inches deep on heavy, and six
inches on hght soils. Shallower drills are, however, recom-
mended. See Chapter X. Sometimes the drills are drawn
before planting, and this answers all right when the soil is
dry and not likely to be rendered too close and compact by
the treading incidental to planting and covering in the
drills. Where the soil is heavy and pasty and liable to be
made too close and compact by treading, it is a good plan
to form the drills one at a time, plant the tubers, turn over
the soil with a fork or spade till a sufficient width has been
dug to form a second drill, and so on. In this way the
soil is left uniformly light, and when rootintj commences
there are no compressed lumps of earth to restrict develop-
ment of the roots. In forming the rows or drills, it is de-
sirable, as far as possible, to let them run due north and
south. This enables the sun to reach both sides of the
rows during the day; whereas, if running east and west,
only the south side of the rows will get any sun. We
have tried the experiment of growing other vegetables, be-
sides potatoes, in rows running east and west, and north
and south, and have found the best results by following
the latter rule. On the farm the drills or rows are usually
SYSTEMS OF PLANTING. 75
drawn by a double-breasted plough, an alternate ridge and
furrow being formed. Manure is then placed along the
bottom of the furrows, the potatoes planted on top, and
the ridges afterwards split by the plough, in order to
cover the " sets." As remarked elsewhere we do not be-
lieve in the practice of placing manure in the furrows ; it
is better to apply it in autumn or winter. As regards the
depth of the drills in field culture, it is pretty generally
agreed that it is unwise to go deeper than three inches on
the heavier soils and four inches on the lighter ones.
For this shallow planting the soil must be in good tilth,
otherwise the " sets " will not grow satisfactorilj'. The
nearer the young shoots and roots are to the sunshine and
air, the better will growth and yield be.
The Flat System. — In this case, the land is manured
and got into good tilth beforehand. The position of the
rows is indicated by means of a line, or by means of a
shallow furrow marked out by a marking or setting-out
machine. The workman then, by means of a spade or
dibber, makes the holes three to four inches deep, and is
followed by another person who drops in the " sets," and
yet another who covers them with soil. This is not a
commendable plan to follow when choice and sprouted
tubers have to be planted, as there is always a risk of the
sprouts being broken off. A modification of this plan is
for a workman to take out a shallow spitful of soil at the
required distances in the rows, another person dropping
a " set " into each hole. When the end of the row is
reached, the workman works back on a second row, and
each spadeful of soil taken out is thrown by him into a
hole in the previous row, containing a " set." He thus
forms holes in one row, and covers in the " sets " in the
preceding one as he works along the field. This is really
a much better and more expeditious way than dibbling in
the " sets."
Lazy-bed System — This system is followed in many
76 THE POTATO.
parts of Ireland, especially on damp soils. The soil 'is
marked off into beds 4 to 6ft. in width, and trenches 1 to
2ft. wide and 1 ft. deep are taken out on each side, the soil
being thrown on the top of the bed. The potatoes are then
planted on the surface, more soil being dug out to cover
,theni. When the shoots are six inches high, still further
soil is dug out of the trenches to earth them up. This
system is too laborious and expensive -to adopt except in
wet districts.
Distances for Planting- — The distance apart at
which it is best to jjlant, of course, varies with circum-
stances. Very early light-cropping varieties to be dug
when very young may be planted in drills 20in. apart, wdth
the sets a foot apart. Medium earlj- may be put 27in.
(the narrowest at which moulding-up can be done by the
plough), with sets 12-16in. apart. For heavy growing
maincrops 30in. ridges and sets 14-16in. is near enough;
and for very big-haulmed potatoes 32in. is not too wide,
with sets 14 to 18in. apart.
Plougrhingr-in System — This consists of ploughing
the land and planting potatoes at the same time. It is,
however, not a commendable plan to adopt generally. The
furrows are formed in the ordinary way, and in every third
one the sets have to be planted by a number of hands.
When the fourth furrow is turned this covers the " sets."
The system is bad, because the tubers are laid up upon
the hard, smooth subsoil or " pan "' formed by the pas-
sage of the plough, and the " set " has consequently
very poor encouragement in the way of friable soil
to put forth healthy roots and shoots. Where a dig-
ging plough is used in place of the ordinary plough there
is less objection. We regard this system as a rough and
ready one, only &i for adoption in the case of foul land
which it is desirous to clean by taking a haphazard crop of
potatoes from it.
«
o
a
78 THE POTATO.
CHAPTER IX.
POTATO CULTURE ON FARMS.
One of the few branches of agriculture in which British
farmers can hold their own in these times of se^'ere agri-
cultural competition is that of potato growing. Even in
the production of early tubers, to be sold as " new " pota-
toes, this is the case in relation to districts specially
favoured in respect of climate, such as the south of Corn-
wall, the Scilly Isles, and the west coast-lands of Scot-
land, particularly of Ayrshire. Recently, the South of
Ireland has been added to the number of districts in which
early potatoes .are grown, and none too soon, as it has long
been known that the climate there is admirably suited to
the industry. Of course, we do not produce in any part
of Great Britain or Ireland potatoes to compete with sup-
plies from tropical or semi-tropical countries, which arrive
during the winter. Nor do our growers deem it worth
their while to produce potatoes in glasshouses, after the
Jersey fashion, or at least not to any considerable extent.
But, in open-air production, the Scilly Isles are ahead of
Jersey, and the south of Cornwall, taking one season with
another, is about on a level with the great potato island.
The Ayrshire growers have to be content with a later
market ; but what they lack in price they make good in
quantity.
Acreagre on Farms — The potato crop is one of the
few crops which have not been reduced in area in Great
Britain during the last twenty years. In 1884 the area
was 565,048 acres, and in 1904 it was 570,209 acres. Bear-
POTATO CULTURE ON FARMS. 79
ing in mind the fact that, during that period, the arable
land in Great Britain has decreased by nearly two million
acres, these figures bear out the statement that our
growers of potatoes can defy outside competition. It is
true that in Ireland the area of the potato crop has fallen
from 798,942 acres in 1884 to 618,540 in 1904, as a result
of a great conversion of arable land to pasture, but in that
country a large proportion of the produce has always been
grown for consumption on farms, and the increased pros-
perity of the people has rendered them less dependent
upon potatoes as food than they were formerly. The five
greatest potato-growing counties in England, with the
acreages for 1904, are: Lincoln, 76,249; Yorkshire, 52,733;
Lancashire, 44,665; Cheshire, 24,167; and Cambridge,
24,024. Kent, Norfolk, Devon, Durham, and Stafford
grow severally from 10,000 to over 13,000 acres. Among
Scottish counties Fife stands highest, with over 15,000
acres; Perth and Forfar growing over 12,000; Ayr nearly
9,000; Haddington over 8,000; and Aberdeen over 7,000
Soilc — A good loam, light, rather than heavy, such as
the soils over the Old Eed Sandstone or the Greensand, or
alluvial soil, is the best for potatoes. Peaty soils, such as
those of the Lincolnshire fens, produce great crops, but
the tubers, known in the market as " blackland " potatoes,
are of comparatively low quality, and sell accordingly.
Neither clays nor their soils over the chalk are well suited
to the crop. In the former the potatoes are particularly
liable to disease in rainy seasons, and in the latter they
suffer from drought in dry seasons. See also chapter on
Soils.
Cultivation. — When potatoes are to be grown after a
corn crop, the stubble should be thoroughly cultivated as
early as possible. Nothing beats steam cultivation, but
where this is not available, the land should be well worked
with the plough, the cultivator, and the harrows, being
so THE POTATO.
stirred repeatedly to cleanse it from weeds. After this
it should be ploughed deepl,v for the winter. The plough-
ing depends partly upon the method of planting. Some
growers, who adopt the ridge system, ridge the land up
with a double-breasted plough in the autumn, in which
case it lies well for the winter, and is easily worked in
the spring. Others plough it on the fiat, cross-plough it
in February if dry enough, and cultivate thoroughly and
ridge it just before planting it. Those who grow on the flat
pursue the like course, except that, after cultivating and
harrowing, they plough or dibble the potatoes in without
ridging. If the land be at all heavy, the plan of ploughing
in February or later is a questionable one. It cuts thistles,
no doubt, but, unless hard frost follows, the land is not
in as finely divided a condition at planting time as it
would have been if not ploughed a second time, and con-
sequently it is not so well suited to the ramification of the
potato root fibres, while it does not resist drought so well
in a season subject to that infliction. Whatever method
of cultivation and planting is adopted, it is of the utmost
importance to obtain a good depth of fine mould, and
when the land is cloddy, heavy rolling and harrowing
should be perseveringly pursued until a fine tilth is
secured. The ridge system is probably the best for the
main crop, and certainly it has many conveniences; but
early potatoes are grown on the flat in Jersey and in some
parts of Great Britain, shallow planting being desirable for
them.
Manuring. — Most of the great growers rely largely,
and some entirely, upon farmyard manure or town dung.
Where no artificials are used, twenty to thirty tons of
the natural manure, and sometimes forty, are applied by
those who grow heavj' crops. This manure- is put on the
land before the first or second ploughing where the crop
is to be grown on the flat, and in some cases where it is
to be grown on the ridge system. Most of the Scottish
growers, who generally pursue the ridge system, however,
p-i
82 THE POTATO.
apply the farmyard manure in the drills, just before plant-
ing. Experiments, as a rule, have shown that nothing
beats a very heavy dressing of natural manure, and in
many cases the addition of artificials to twenty tons or
more of dung has had comparatively little efi'ect, and has
not proved remunerative. On the other hand, ten tons
of dung and a dressing of artificial manures have usually
given as good results as double the quantity of the former
alone, and sometimes better crops. In all cases, the arti-
ficials should contain nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and
potash. A dressing that has almost invariably given great
satisfaction consists of 10 tons of dung, 4 cw^t. of super-
phosphate, 1 to 2 cwt. of sulphate or muriate of ammonia,
and 1 to 2 cwt. of sulphate of potash. When no dung is
available, a successful dressing is made up of 4 cwt. of
superphosphate and 2 cv^'t. each of sulphate of ammonia
and sulphate of potash, applied at planting time, and fol-
lowed, just before the potatoes are earthed up, with 1 cwt.
per acre of nitrate of soda as a top dressing. In some
cases, such liberal artificial manuring has given crops as
good as where dung has been used, and at a smaller cost
when town dung has been purchased. As a source of
potash sulphate has done best in some cases, and muriate
in others, each having almost invariably beaten an equiva-
lent quantity of kainit. When nitrate of soda is used
instead of sulphate of ammonia, partly at the time of
planting, and partly later, it shovdd not be mixed with the
supersphosphate, unless the mixture is certain to be sup-
plied on the same day, because chemical action takes
place in such a mixture, causing loss of nitrogen. But
sulphate or muriate of ammonia may be mixed with super-
phosphate at any time. The potash may be mixed with
any of the other manures. See also the chapter on
Manures.
Planting:. — Very early crops are commonly planted in
February, or occasionally, in Jersey, Cornwall, and the
Scilly Isles, in the latter part of .January, if the Ian'] be
POTATO CULTURE ON FARMS. 83
dry enough, which is not often the case. But in districts
more hable than these favoured ones to spring frosts, it is
not safe to plant before the last week of February or early
in March. In Jersey the very earliest open-air crops are
grown on slopes facing the south, and small pieces are
sometimes planted by hand, as in a garden. On larger
pieces of land, the tubers are usually ploughed in, a small
one-horse plough being used. The seed, invariably
sprouted, is planted in rows 14in. to 20in. apart, the sets
being about 12in. apart in the rows. They are dropped in
every second furrow after the plough, which covers them
with only three or four inches of soil — usually not more
than three inches. In Ayrshire early potatoes are planted
in drills, on the ridge system, these being often drawn by a
combined drill-plough and artificial manure sower, which
forms two drills at the same time, and sows the manure
within. The sets are covered up with a double-breasted
plough. The drills are usually 25in. apart, and sprouted
seed is used. As to the size of the seed tubers, in Jersey
thej' are as they are raised, unless very small ones are
sifted out. In Ayrshire sets of fair size are now generally
used. Whole sets are always used, and women generally
do the dropping. In the case of the main crop of potatoes
the ridges in Great Britain generally are made about 27in.
apart, and the sets vary in distance in the rows, from 12in.
to 18in., partly according to the size of the tubers, and
partly in relation to the richness of the soil. Some growers
use seconds for seed, others large tubers cut or uncut, and
yet others a mixture known as " seed and ware," consist-
ing of the potatoes as grown sifted over sieves of l|in.
to l-iin. mesh, very large tubers being sometimes picked
out during the sifting. The most common method of
planting where the ridge system prevails is that of drawing
the drills and covering the seed alike with the double-
breasted plough. When grown on the flat, the potatoes
are most commonly ploughed in with ploughs which
will draw furrows wide enough to make two furrows 27in.
wide, so that the seed can be dropped in every second
Q 2
84 THE POTATO.
furrow. Some growers plant lieavy-cropping varieties in
rows 30in. apart, and in that case the sets are dropped
in every third furrow. In some cases, however, the land
is marked out with a drill, and the seed is dibbled or
" spaded " in. Potato-planting machines are used to a
small extent.
Varieties. — These are so exceedingly numerous that a
complete list of all those used in field culture would occupy
much space. Among first earlies, the Eoyal Jersey Fluke
is the favourite hi the Channel Islands, Ashleaf, formerly
the prevailing variety, being much less grown. The
former is preferred on account of its superior yield, the
tubers being much larger than those of the latter. The
quality of the lioyal Jersey Fluke is very poor : but as
consumers in England prefer large size to fine quality, and
will actually pay more for the big and handsome Fluke
than for the Ashleaf, the growers are glad to suit their
taste. The old Jersey Fluke, a superior variety, is very
little grown now. Pi'ince of Wales is planted to some
extent. Myatt's Ashleaf and L)uke of York are most
grown in Cornwall, the former variety and Koyal Jersey
Fluke in the Scilly Isles. Other more or less early kinds
grown as field crops in England are Puritan, Sharpe's Vic-
tor, Snowdrop, Early Eose, Market Favourite, and Beauty
of Hebron. In Scotland the favourite first early is Puri-
tan. Sir John Llewelyn has gained much favour in all
parts of Great Britain, but has only just become cheap
enough for planting on a large scale. Among second
earlies British Queen is probably grown more extensively
than any other, though some of the newer kinds may be
gradually replacing it. Royal Kidney, Sutton's Windsor
Castle, and Early Eegent have come much into use in
some parts of the kingdom. Of the late varieties Up-to-
date is still most extensively planted in Grea,t Britain as
a whole. Mainerop, Langworthy, Bruce, and other sorts
are also extensively grown in Scotland ; while Abundance,
Magnum Bonum, the Factor, and other kinds are much in
86 THE POTATO.
use in England. Ireland .still stands by the Champion to
a great extent, but not so nearly exclusivel.y as she did
some years ago. Among the new varieties which have
now become cheap enough for culture on a fairly large
scale, are Evergood, King Edward VII., and Northern
Star. Eldorado has dropped tremendously from the
absurdly " boomed " price of 1904, but is still dear for a
field crop. The old Ttegent, one of the best of potatoes,
and formerly grown extensively in Scotland, has almost
gone out of cultivation, its constitution having become
enfeebled by age.
After-Cultivation. — After the potatoes have been
planted, and shortly before they come up, light harrow-
ing, to kill annual weeds, and to break any cap in the soil,
is carried on. For ridges what are known as saddle-
back harrows are used. They do two ridges at a time,
and are easily drawn by one horse. There is one
handle to each pair of harrows, by which the driver
guides the imj^lement. The next operation is that
of cultivation between the rows. For this purpose
"grubbers" are made with curved tines, which stir
up the soil deeply, and close to the potatoes. This
work is done two or three times, as a rule. The
double-breasted plough, without its breasts, and with hoes
attached to it, is extensively used for cultivation between
the rows. The ordinary horse-hoe is commonlj' used
where potatoes are grown on the flat. Hand-hoeing is
desirable in the rows, especially where thistles come up;
but some growers do but little of this work, as the.y rely
on the tops to smother small weeds, while large ones other
than thistles are frequently pulled up by women. When
the tops are sufficiently advanced, they are earthed up
with the double-breasted plough, or by a three-row
moulder. It is desirable to defer this operation as long
as possible, short of waiting till the tops hang down to-
wards the spaces between the rows.
Spraying: — The practice of spraying potatoes with
POTATO CULTURE ON FARMS. 87
Bordeaux mixture is extending rapidly. It is not only a
valuable preventive to disease, hut also a means of pro-
longing the life of the haulm, and thus increasing the
yield. It does not give absolute immunity from disease,
but greatly reduces the injury. The mixture consists of
201b. of sulphate of copper, and either 101b. or 201b. of
quicklime in 100 gallons of water. The larger quantity of
lime is preferable, as it insures the neutralizing of the
acidity in the sulphate of copper, and does away with the
necessity of testing. When the smaller quantity of lime
is used, the testing of the mixture with a piece of litmus
paper is of importance. If the paper turns red when
dipped in the solution more lime must be added until it
is found to retain its blue colour on dipping it. The copper
sulphate is dissolved with hot water in a wooden vessel,
and the lime is slaked in another. When the lime has
been sufficiently liquefied, it is strained through a sieve
of the finest brass wire gauze into the other solution.
After further dilution to make up 100 gallons, the mix-
ture is strained into the spraying machine. Bordeaux
mixture should not be made until it is required, as it
deteriorates by keeping. Some authorities state that it
should not be kept for over forty-eight hours. A ready-
made dry mixture, known as Strawsonite, which will keep
for any time in its dry state, is marmfactured bj' JVIessrs.
Strawson, of Queen Victoria Street, London. It is dearer
than the sulphate of copper and lime, but saves much
disagreeable work. IMessrs. Strawson make excellent
spraying machines for potatoes. One is an independent
machine, which sprays seven rows of potatoes at a time,
and gets over 25 acres in a day. It contains 100 gallons,
and is drawn by two horses. Another, which contains 60
gallons, sprays five rows at a time. A third is a five-row
sprayer, which can be worked from an ordinary farm
cart, and costs much less than an independent machine.
This machine is either worked by a man standing in the
cart, or by gearing attached to one of the cart wheels.
Twelve to fifteen acres a day can be sprayed with this
S8 THE POTATO. j
machine, which is drawn b^- one horse. Yci't early pota-
toes are not often sprayed, as the operation retards
maturity, and the crop is usually got oft the land before
disease becomes widely prevalent. This, however, is not
always the case, the early crop in 1904, particularly in
Jersey, being very badly diseased. Late crops should be
sprayed twice, the first time soon after the potatoes have
been earthed up, and the second time about three or four
weeks later. A dry day, when there are no signs of rain,
should be chosen for the work. Further information on
the potato disease and the remedies for its prevention will
be found in a separate chapter,
CHAPTER X.
CULTURE IN GARDENS.
Most people who have gardens of any size, or, failing
them, allotments, like to grow their own potatoes. This is
especially true of the early and second early sorts, tliat
can be lifted as required from the garden. Home-grown
tubers taste ever so much sweeter and nicer than those
half -shrivelled, waxy things one gets from the Canary
Islands, or those only a trifle better that hail from the
Channel Islands and Cornwall, and which have been ex-
posed in the market or on the greengrocer's stall for days
before one gets them. To dig up one's own kidney pota-
toes fresh from the soil in June and July, when their skins
are tender and easily rub off, then cook and serve them
with melted butter, flavoured with mint, is, indeed, a
source of delight. We certainly think that all who can
90 THE POTATO.
find room lor a iew potatoes sliould fjrow tlu' early sorts
to use as wanted from the soil. Late potatoes are good
enough, if the right sort, wherever grown, and these can
be purchased clieap enough when required. So, if you
have limited room, by all means grow earlies for your own
use, and buy late ones in due season. If you have a fair
amount of room grow earlies anil second earlies, so as to
maintain a supply till autumn, and buy late potatoes in
winter. But, if you have plenty of room, grow all three
types; it will pay you to do so, and, moreover, if you are
careful in the selection of sorts, you will get much better
flavoured potatoes than you co\dd probably buy in the
open market. In order, then, that you may grow your
potato crops successfully we will now proceed to tell you
all about the business, reserving no special secrets, but
placing all our knowledge and experience fully and freely
at your service.
Early Crops. — Here we mean early crops grown out-
doors, not those reared in pits or frames, as referred to in
another chapter. To have tubers fit to lift in June a south
border at the foot of a wall, and a rich, deep, well-drained
soil is preferable; but an open plot, provided it be shel-
tered from north and east, and slope to the south, will
answer almost as well. The soil should be prepared and
manured as advised in the chapters on Soils and Manures,
and the " sets " got ready for planting in the manner
advised in Chapter VII. Draw the drills from north to
south, and three to four inches deep, and twenty to
twenty-four inches apart. In these place the sets eight to
ten inches apart, cover with mould, and the planting is
finished. In the event of the soil not being over friable,
spread som.e decayed refuse or well rotted manure along
the drills, place the " sets " in position, and cover each
tuber with a small quantity of leaf-mould or old potting
compost, before filling up the drills with the ordinary
mould. In warm districts from the end of February to
the first week in March will be a good time to plant. When
CULTURE IN GARDENS. 91
the shaws appear above the ground protect with a little
dry litter laid on at night only. Use the hoe or fork freely
between the rows a little later, and as soon as the shaws
get fairly strong mould up th:: rows. Lifting for use as
required may begin in June, and the remainder of the crop
as soon as the haulm begins to turn yellow and the skin on
the tubers becomes " set " or firm.
Second Early Crops — The second early varieties
should be planted from the middle to the end of March,
the earlier period being best on light, warm soils, and the
latter on those of a less genial nature. Here, again, the
soil should be properly prepared and manured in accor-
dance with the advice given in Chapters IV. and V. The
drills on the lighter soils may be four inches, and en the
heavier ones three inches deep, and they should run north
and south. Do not be in too great a hurry to plant if the
soil is at all wet and pasty; betterby farwait a week, even,
and plant when the soil will work pleasantly. Due con-
sideration, too, must be paid to the habit of growth of the
variety, giving those that are of robust growth plenty of
width between the drills. In the event of frosty weather
supervening when the shoots are pushing through, draw a
little fine mould over them from time to time as a pro-
tection. In fine weather stir the mould between the rows.
This operation will be of immense benefit to the crops,
checking the growth of weeds and aerating and ameliorat-
ing the soil. As soon as the shoots are the requisite height
mould up the rows, and then there will be nothing more to
see to till the lifting time occurs — when the haulm turns
yellow and the skin has set on the tubers.
Main Crops. — The best time to plant maincrop pota-
toes is from the end of March to the middle of April. As
this is the chief crop, special pains ought to be taken to
get the land in really good condition the previous autumn
or winter. The importance of this subject has been fully
discussed in Chapter IV., and we strongly counsel the
'2 THE POTATO.
reader to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest every
line of the advice given therein. Given a good soil and
fine weather, so that the soil can be comfortably and easily
worked without trampling it into a pasty mass, the plant-
ing may proceed in earnest between any of the dates men-
tioned. Do not overlook the importance of selecting
medium-sized whole tubers as " sets," getting theseboxed
and properly sprouted, and then allowing ample space
between the " sets " and the rows. Give each plant good
soil to supply food, and plenty of room to develop, and
it will reward you a hundredfold for all your pains. The
drills in this case may be three to four inches deep, accord-
ing to the state of the soil. Directly the shoots appear
through the soil use the hoe occasionally to keep down
weeds and aerate the soil. At this period it will be oppor-
tune to apply guano or one of the nitrogenous manures
advised in Chapter Y. When the shoots or " shaws
are high enough, mould up the rows, choosing a fine da,y
for the work". Draw the earth up well to the stems, and
take care in doing so not to injure or expose the young
tubers. In damp seasons favourable to the potato disease
the Jensen system of giving a second earthing up might
well be practised. This, however, can only be properly
practised -where there is a good width between the rows
in order to get the necessary- mould. The s;vstem is to
draw the mould up flatly on one side of the row and to
depress the stems over on to it, and then to earth up
freely with a fork on the opposite side, this causing the
potato stems to heel over on their sides. This plan pre-
vents the spores of the fungus being washed on to the
tubers. The lifting of the crop should be done on fine
days. As the lifting proceeds throw the haulm into one
row, the cooking tubers into another, the seed tubers in
another row, and the "chats " by themselves. Diseased
tubers, if any, should, if discovered, be thrown into a
basket or box, and byrnt at the earliest opportunity.
Tubers for cooking pui-poses should not be exposed longer
than necessary to the light, but stored awaj-. Fuller
CULTURE IN GARDENS. 93
details on storing cooking and ' ' seed ' ' tubers will - be
found elsewhere.
Catch Crops. — In small gardens the most has to bo
made of the limited space at command, and hence it is
frequently the practice to plan' green crops between the
rows of potatoes. There is no serious objection to this
being done if plenty of width is allowed between the rows.
When such is not done, both crops suffer, and the potato
crop more especially. Those, therefore, who wish to grow
kale, sprouts, broccoli, savoj'S, or cabbages between pota-
toes should allow a width of not less than thirty inches,
or, better still, three feet. There is then no chance of the
potato haulm smothering the plants, or of the latter inter-
fering with the growth of the potatoes. These catch crops
should, of course, be planted after the final, moulding is
completed. In the Midlands cottagers often drop broad
bean seeds in the rows of their potatoes at planting time.
The seeds are placed about a foot apart. Here, again, if
plenty of space is allowed between the " sets " no great
harm is done, and many a dish of broad beans to accom-
pany the inevitable piece of bacon is assured. When the
potato crop is lifted, the soil is usually levelled between
the green crops, and the latter then have the plot to them-
selves. This double cropping business, to be a success,
depends upon the thorough preparation of the land for the
potato crop. The more thoroughly the land is tilled and
enriched the preceding autumn and winter, the better will
the dual crops be.
Varieties. — There are so many varieties in cultiva-
tion, and so many of them possessing high merit, that it
becomes no easy task to make a selection. As we are giv-
ing a descriptive list of the chief varieties grown in this
country at the end of this book, we shall content ourselves
with naming twenty-four of what we consider the best
flavoured, good cooking, and free cropping sorts for garden
culture.
94 THE POTATO.
First Earlies — Myatt's Ashleaf, an old variety, with
white kidney-shaped tubers, a strong grower and heavy
cropper. Snowdrop, a white liidney, free cropper, and
good cooker. Sutton's J\lay Queeo; » white kidney, very
early, and well adapted for warm border, frame, or hotbed
culture; free cropper and good cooker. Early Puritan, an
early oval round, with large tubers, which cook well. Sir
John Llewelyn, a white kidney, with handsome shallow-
eyed tubers, which cook well, anrl are of excellent flavour;
free cropper ; resists disease ; good for light soils. Sharpe s
Victor, white flesh, a white round, suitable for very early
crops in warm borders, frames, or pots; excellent cooker;
flavour first rate. Sutton's Kingleader, a white kidney,
with W'hite flesh, well suited for the earliest crop; good
for a light soil ; of excellent flavour, and a first-rate cooker ;
planted in February, the crop will be ready to Jift early
in June. The Pearl, a white kidney, with handsome
tubers; crops splendidly, cooks well, and is of excellent
flavour; will do well on a light soil.
Second Earlies. — Sutton's Windsor Castle, a white
round, with oval, flatfish tubers, having a netted skin;
heavy cropper ; cooks splendidly, and is of excellent
flavour. British Queen, a white kidney, and very free
cropper and disease resister ; tubers cook very dry
and floury, and the flavour is first class; good keeper.
Cigarette, a white round, an enormous cropper, high
flavoured and good cooking variety; resists disease well.
Sutton's Supreme, a white kidney, with pebble-shaped
tubers; crops heavilj^, resists disease well, cooks exceed-
ingly well, and is of first-rate flavour. General Roberts,
a white round, with flatfish tubers ; is a heavy cropper,
cooks nice and floury, and is of excellent flavour; has white
flesh; will do well on a light soil. General French, a
white round, with flatfish tubers, shallow eyes, and white
flesh ; flavour first rate ; cooking qualities excellent.
Beauty of Hebron, a coloured round, with rosy-tinted,
oval-shaped tubers, \\'ell suited for light or chalky soils;
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96 THE POTATO.'
has white i3esh, a very fine flavour, and cooks dry and
floury. King Edward VII., a coloured liidney, with white
skin and deep jsiuk eyes ; a heavy cropper, good cooker,
and fairly good flavoured variety.
Maincrop or Late. — Northern Star, a white round,
heavy cropper, good cooker, and first-rate flavoured
variety. Sutton's Discovery, a white round, with pebble-
shaped tubers ; is not only a splendid cropper and disease-
resister, but also one of the best flavoured and cooking
varieties in cultivation. Webb's Goldfinder, a white
round, with flattish tubers; crops heavily, is of first-rate
flavour, and a grand cooker. Charles Fidler, a white
kidney, heavy cropper, good cooker, and fine flavoured
variety; excellent keeper. Lim or Sim Gray, a white
round, with oval-shaped, fairly large tubers; crops heavily
and cooks well. Eldorado, a ^^hite kidney, with shallow
eyes; heavy cropper and disease-resister ; first-rate cooker
and of excellent flavour. Sutton's Satisfaction, a white
pebble-shaped round, heavy cropper, excellent cooker, and
fine flavoured variety. The Factor, a white round; crops
heavily, has a grand constitution; is of fine flavour and a
first-rate cooker.
CULTURE FOR EXHIBITION. 97
GHAPTEE XI.
CULTURE FOR EXHIBITION.
The interest centred in the potato at the present time is
probably keener than it has been since its introduction
into this country, owing, to a very great extent, to the
increasing number of new varieties which are annually
introduced . Unfortunately, many of the most handsome
are practically useless except for appearance. In our
opinion,' though they are very taking on the exhibition
table, the latter should not be encouraged, and in making
awards we have always contended that judges should seri-
ously take into consideration the quality of the varieties
placed before them. This is generally done in the case of
all other productions jjlaced in competition, and why this
should not be more rigidly enforced in respect of what is
unquestionably on= of the most important necessaries of
everyday life, we are at a loss to understand. Many enter-
tain the erroneous opinion that high-class exhibition pota-
toes can only be procured on soil which is naturally most
favourable to their growth. This, we assure the reader,
is not the case, as bj' adopting somewhat artificial means,
which necessarily ent&,ik a certain amount of labour,
tubers of the highest quality can be ensured, if one is
prepared t;o give the extra trouble required.
Preparing the " Sets." — The first, and one of the
most important, items is the selection of suitable varieties,
a list of which we give at the end of this chapter. The
next thing in importance is the preparation of the " sets."
This unquestionably plays a most important part as to the
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68 THE POTATO.
final results. We prefer choice, medium-sized tubers
planted whole. These should be selected in good time
before they commence to sprout, be arranged in single
layers on a little finely-sifted leaf-soil in suitable trays,
and allowed to sprout away slowly in a low temperature,
but, of course, proof against frost. The lighter the place
assigned to them the better, as then no undue waste
will take place previous to planting.
Preparation of the Soil — As above stated, much
of the soil in many parts of this country is unsuited for
naturally producing exhibition specimens, but we know of
none, if properly prepared, and a suitable mixture added,
that cannot be brought into such a condition that the diffi-
culties may be overcome. In the first place, the site
should be well drained, and as open as possible. The soil,
too, should be well trenched during the winter or early
spring. A thorough good layer of long stable litter should
be placed in the bottom, and no attempt made to fine
down the surface, which should be left for the time being
to the influence of the weather. A good dressing of fresh
soot should be strewn over the land after the trenching is
completed, and if the soil be destitute of lime a good
sprinkle of this should also be given.
Compost for Planting: — This should also be got
in readiness during the month of February, and we know
of nothing better than old mushroom-bed manure and well-
decayed leaf-mould in equal quantities, both of which
should be passed through a coarse-meshed sieve. To every
four barrow-loads add the fourth pait of a peck of slacked
lime and soot. The whole should be thoroughly
turned over several times, so that each constituent be-
comes thoroughly incorporated. If this can be kept in the
dry in an open shed till wanted, so much the better.
About the middle of March the planting should be pro-
ceeded with. It is absolutely of the greatest importance
that abundance of room should be provided both between
H -1
100 THE POTATO.
the rows and the " sets." Lightly fork over the surface
this time, breaking it do'i'in as finely as possible. Good
trenches should be taken out M it^ a spade, the width of
this tool and from a foot to Afte^n inches in depth, which
should be half filled wit^^^%^ixture already prepared.
By this date the selecte^f^^^s, if they have been pro-
perly treated, will have pioduced stout, sturdy shoots. All
the weaker ones should be rubbed or cut out, retaining
two or three of the strongest only. These should be care-
fully placed in the trenches a^*a. distance of '2-i inches
apart, after which fill up the remainder of the trench with
the same kind of mixture, over which should be placed a
little of the finest soil which'has been excavated. Eake
over neatly and make a mark in the way of a small drill
down the centre of the row. Allow a distance of at least
3ft. Gin. bet^veeu the rows, and proceed with the work in
the same manner.
Subsequent Culture — Should late spring frosts be
imminent, means of some kind must be taken to protect
the young growth, as seldom, if ever, when the tops be-
come crippled, do satisfactory results follow. Plj- the hoe
frequently after the' growth can be seen, to keep
down weeds and aerate and pulverise the soil. When the
growths are about 4in. in height, any small weak ones
should be drawn out, which is easily accomplished, and
the plants moulded in the ordinary way. Slight applica-
tions of soot should be applied during the growing season.
When the growth has reached a height of about one foot
means should be taken to keep it in an upright position,
as by so doing both sun and air, which are so essential,
can reach the soil uninterrupted. This is easily accom-
plished by driving in fairly stout stakes at regular intervals
along each side of the row, to which should be stretched
two or three lines of fairly stout tarred cord, after which
the tops will require no other attention till the crop is
lifted; and here, let us say, this precaution is frequently
deferred too long.
CULTURE FOR EXHIBITION. 101
Lifting: the Tubers — Immediately the tubers have
practically completed their growth, nc time should be lost
in taking them up, or, in all probability, the dreaded
disease will put in its appearance, and a large percentage
of the crop will become affected and spoilt, which other-
wise, by timely lifting, might have been saved. Cut off
the whole of the tops close to the ground with a pair of
hedge shears, and have everything in readiness. Proceed
to dig them with a potato fork, choosing fine weather for
the purpose. Every care should be taken not to damage
the tubers, and all the most promising should be selected
and placed in suitable boxes, covering them as speedily as
possible with some of the finely-sifted soil in which i;hey
have been growing.
Preserving- the Tubers for Show It is of the
utmost importance that both light and air be kept from
the tubers. One layer only should be placed in a box,
and the boxes stored away till required in a dark room or
cellar. Some exhibitors wash and wrajj the tubers in paj^er,
covering them with fine sand until wanted, but we much
prefer deferring this till the last moment, otherwise much
of the fresh appearance will have left them. There are
many methods adopted by way of washing and cleaning,
but, after repeated experiments, we know of none better
than placing them for about twenty minutes in a vessel
of cold, soft water, after which thoroughly rub them as
hard as the skin will allow without damaging with a very
soft brush or a piece of sponge, and a lather of Sunlight
soap. Thoroughly rinse the tubers in clear water, allow
them to dry in a dark place, wrap up in soft tissue paper,
and pack carefully. The required number of tubers should
be as nearly alike as possible, free from all blemishes, and
of medium size. Generally speaking, in my opinion, pota-
toes are shown much too large, and we hope the day is
not far distant when this will be rectified. We know of
no place where potatoes are better shown than in Scot-
land, and there is not the slightest doubt but what they
set the southern growers a good example in this respect.
102 THE POTATO.
Best Exhibition Varieties. — The following varie-
ties are what we consider to be the very best both for
exhibition and table use:
KoDKD. — Windsor Castle, Cigarette, Carltonian, Snow-
ball, General Buller, and Evergood.
Kidney. — Factor, Snowdrop, Sir John Llewelyn, Satis-
faction, Royal Kidney, and Guardian.
Coloured Round. — Reading Russei, Vicar of Laleham,
and The Dean.
Coloured Kidnet. — Mr. Breese, Edgcote Purple, and
King Edward VII.
CHAPTER XII.
FORCING POTATOES.
When we take into consideration the importance attached
to this vegetable, one need not be surprised to find there
is such a demand for the young tubers early in the year.
While wealth increases, the public taste seeixis to grow
with it; therefore, whatever seems to be most out of
season there is usually the greatest demand for — in fact,
it would appear that we have now arrived at a period
when the taste for all things out of season seems to be
the prevailing one. New potatoes in March and green
peas in April are now quite common things, so, as the
Americans say, we must " go one better," and have them
all the year round. The flavour of the home-grown pro-
duce being so superior to those iixiported, it is not sur-
prising that those who can afford the luxury of having
them grown on their own establishments, even though the
FORCING POTATOES. 103
cost be greater, should do so. It was once the lot of the
writer to serve an employer who was so fastidious about
his young potatoes that he would not have them lifted
out of the soil until it was time to cook them, as he was
of opinion they lost much of their fine flavour unless they
were cooked and eaten straight from the ground. Now,
if the young tubers lose flavour during the time they are
being transferred from the garden to the kitchen, whal
must be the quality of those brought from Malta, the
Canary Isles, and elsewhere? Taking these things into
consideration, is it not worth while making an effort to have
sweet home-grown tubers that are a credit to the host and
producer alike? For a first crop special preparations are
necessary, as it is useless to go to the store and take up
a lot of seed, plant them in pots, pits, or frames, in the
hope of lifting the crop of new tubers in the course of six
or eight weeks; if so, the cultivator is doomed to disap-
pointment
Preparing: the Sets — It has now become a recog-
nised fact that if the finest results are to be obtained in
growing potatoes, whether by early forcing or not, a start
must be made at the time the crop is lifted in the autumn.
Seed intended for planting early should be selected with
care, being of even size, two to three ounces in weight.
Those of much smaller size are not capable of producing
the stout, robust growths, which are so necessary to the
assurance of a heavy crop, while larger " sets " would be
a waste of seed. Whole sets always produce heavier and
more even crops than cut ones ; therefore, the latter ought
not to be resorted to in the case of forced potatoes. It is
the greatest bulk that can be produced on a limited space
that pays, not the heaviest weight from a given quantity
of seed, as in the case of new varieties. Having selected
the seed, this should be placed in shallow boxes or trays,
with the broad or " rose " end upwards; or, if the sets are
round ones, that part which possesses the most eyes.
The boxes should be placed in a light, airy position, where
104 THE POTATO.
frost can be excluded, and here they can remain until
guch tinies as they are required for planting, unless re-
quired for verj' early forcing, when it will be necessary to
introduce them into a gentle heat to forward their growth
previous to planting, as by so doing much time will be
saved afterwards. At the time of planting, the young
shoots should be from three-quarters to an inch in length
- — stout, green, plump growths, which will always grow
rapidly when placed in the soil ; and the little moisture
afforded them is taken up readily, thus preventing any
drawbadv.
Preparing: the Soil, — As most varieties of early
.potatoes make but short haulm, they may be classed as
dwarfs. This being the ease, it is necessary to have the
soil in which they are grown as rich as possible, that the
plant food may be readily assimilated by the young
growths. It is not advisable to add stimulants, in the
shape of liquid manure, to a great extent when the plants
are growing as too much moisture affects the quality of
the tubers. The soil intended for the growth of this crop
should have been prepared some time previously, and
kept in readiness under cover till required. If that fronr a
pasture be used, it ought to be thoroughly decayed. Old
mushroom-bed or decayed manure shoidd be added when
the soil is mixed up. If artificial manure , of any kind, be
employed, this should be rich in potash.
Potatoes in Pots. — It often happens in private
establishments that space for forcing vegetables is very
limited, and the most has to be made of every available
foot of room. Still, ofttimes, there are vineries, peach-
houses, and similar structures, where potatoes may be
grown in pots to advantage. They will not interfere with
the crop overhead in the least, and where the houses are
of fair dimensions, paying crops may be taken off without
the least injury to the roots. A few pots could be grown
in almost any house of that description where space could
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be afforded. Pots that have been used for chrysanthe-
mums will be just the thing. It will not be necessary to
use many crocks for drainage, as some rough turfy loam
or well-decayed manure will be far preferable. Place one
large crock over the hole, then put in about six inches of
soil, place one tuber in the centre, then fill up with soil to
the rim. The pots should be stood in the house, the tem-
perature of which is regulated according to the growth of
the vines, peaches, etc. When, in the course of a few
days, the young growths have pushed through the soil,
a gentle watering may be given ; this will cause the soil to
sink, so as to allow room for earthing up, when the haulm
is about six or eight inches high. Every possible care
must be taken in watering ; no more should be given than
will keep the foliage in a healthy growing condition. The
plants must, however, on no account be allowed to suffer
for want of moisture, as this would cause a check to their
growth, and the crop would be unsatisfactory as regards
both quality and quantity.
Potatoes on Hotbeds. — Fermenting material in
most country places is not difficult to obtain, and, though
it requires some degree of knowledge to make the most of
the material, there ought not to be much trouble in main-
taining the requisite heat, provided due care be exercised
in putting the bed together, and not starting it until the
" sets " are ready for planting. The next thing is to pre-
pare the material for the bed, which should consist of
about two parts stable litter and one of leaves, previously
mixed together by being thrown up in a heap and allowed
to ferment for a short time, so as to pass off the violent
heat. The size of the bed must depend on the quantity
of material at command, and the measurements of the
frame to be used, but it should be of sufficient depth to
retain the heat for about two months. The soil having
been prepared as previously noted, and the sets ready for
planting, the material may be put together, allowing at
least eighteen inches all round the frame for a lining, in
FORCING POTATOES. 107
case of severe weather, to maintain the requisite degree of
warmth. The soil should be at least six inches deep at
the time of planting, and another three or four inches may
be added at the time of earthmg. There should be at
least a foot of space allowed between the soil and the glass
Hotbed and Frame.
for the foliage to develop. When the temperature of the
bed is from 75 deg. to 80 deg., the sets may be planted,
when in the course of a few days the young growth will
appear through the soil. It will be necessary to cover the
glass at night t(.i protect the plants from frost, and prevent
the temperature from falling too low. On all favourable
occasions air should be admitted at the top of the frame
by tilting the lights, but care should be exercised to guard
against cold draughts, as these would cause a serious
check to the tender growth. Should the weather after
planting be very severe, it may be necessary to add fresh
fermenting material round the outsides of the frame to
supply the requisite amount of warmth to promote a
healthy, vigorous growth. Very little water will be re-
quired, as the evaporation is not great during the dull
months of early spring; the soil, however, should on no
account be allowed to get dry. As the days lengthen, the
sun has more power, therefore evaporation will be greater,
so that water may be needed, in which case choose fine
108 THE POTATO.
weather, so that the hghts may be removed in the morn-
ings. After watering, close the hghts for a time, unless
the sun is very bright, in order that there may not be a
serious fall in the temperature. If all goes well, the crop
ought to be ready for lifting in about eight weeks from the
time of planting, but, of course, much depends on the
temperature and the amount of sunshine.
Potatoes in Heated Pits — Where hot w&tev is
employed as the heating medium, new potatoes may be
had from Januarj' onward. The beds should be prepared
in the same manner as previously recoiximended by the aid
of fermenting material, the difference being there will not
be such a bulk required, as the whole will be placed inside
the pit. When planting allow a distance of about fifteen
inches between the rows and nine from one set to another
in the row. If planted- closer, the haulm is apt to become
overcrowed, and the results are seldom satisfactory.
There will be more evaporation in pits heated by hot water
than in hotbeds, where the temperature is maintained by
the heat of the fermenting material, therefore more water
will be necessary. Choose a fine morning when the exter-
nal temperature is favourable for watering, and always use
water a little warmer than the temperature of the soil,
say, from 75 to 80 deg. Fah. Ventilation will also need
great care, as potatoes will not thrive in a close, dry atmo-
sphere. When the haulm has grown about six inches long,
earthing should be done, for if this be deferred too long,
much injury will be caused to the foliage. In very cold
vyeather, when it is most difficult to ventilate, do not
allow the external air to come in contact with the young
foliage, as this often causes a check to the growth, the
foliage is attacked with aphis, and in a short time the
whole plants become infested with this troublesome pest,
causing the foliage to turn yellow and die off.
Potatoes in Cold Frames — As early as February
potatoes may be planted in these with safety, the sets
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110 THE POTATO.
being prepared as previously explained, but as the days
get longer and the sun gains more power, the haulm will
grow more robust, therefore a greater distance should be
allowed between both the rows and sets. When the soil is
in good heart, fifteen inches between the former and a
foot from plant to plant will be none too much. Wide
frames are preferable to narrow ones. We prefer those of
eight feet, as there is then sufficient space in them to
afford the sets being planted at the above-mentioned
dimensions to advantage. When planted about the mid-
dle of February, and the weather is at all favourable, the
young growths will be showing themselves through the soil
early in March. Sometimes we have se^-ere weather at
this period; it will therefore be necessary to afford some
protection in addition to the glass. A couple of thick-
nesses of Russian mats, or, what is more preferable, straw
made into frames the same size as the lights. These are
very portable, and can be put on or removed in a short
space of time by a couple of boys. They are also useful
for protecting other crops.
Varieties. — As regards varieties, none command such
prices as the Ashleaf, and they may be used when half
grown. For early potatoes, cooks prefer them about one
and a-half ounces in weight, being served up whole; it is
advisable not to have them too large. There are, of course,
other varieties that produce quite as good crops, and are
as early, but they do not find the same favour with con-
noisseurs; Sharp's Victor, Puritan, Early Eegent, Ring-
leader, and others, but they will never become so popular
as the Ashleaf. Potatoes grown under glass do not, as a
rule, suffer from the attack of disease, but every care
should be taken to have the sets quite free, that a robust
growth may be promoted from the start.
^
NOVEL POTATO CULTURE. Ill
CHAPTER XIII.
NOVEL POTATO CULTURE.
A NOVEL system of securing a supply of young tubers dur-
ing tiie autumn and winter witliout the aid of artificial
heat, was described in the " Gardeners' Magazine," dated
February 14, 1903, by Mr. George Stanton, the talented
head gardener to Mrs. Noble, of Park Place, Henley-on-
Thames. He says: " We have been obtaining supplies of
young potatoes of good quality all through the autumn and
winter without glass or artificial heat. The system is so
simple, and gives so little trouble, that it might, with
much pleasure and profit, be practised extensively even
by those who have no gardens. The results of our trials
have been so much appreciated, and the produce so much
enjoyed, that in future they will not only be repeated, but
will form a part of our routine work.
Best Sort to Growf. — We grow as a field crop enough
potatoes for the supj ly of a large establishment. For our
main crop we find nothing better than the variety Windsor
Castle. When lifted the tubers are taken and kept in
some chalk caverns, of which we have several, and few
places are better adapted for storage. These caverns are
perfectly dark, and do not vary much in temperature. The
potatoes are placed in heaps, and, of course, left un-
covered, and can easily be examined by artificial light, as
may be necessary through the season.
How the Tubers are Treated — The crop of 1901
was a very good one, and about ten tons were stored. We
NOVEL POTATO CULTURE. 113
generally give any old potatoes away that may be left when
the following season's crop is lifted. In doing this in
1902, I saw that some of the old tubers of the 1901 crop
on the chalk floor were forming small potatoes on their
surfaces. On August 5 the more advanced and promis-
ing were arranged one thick in another part of the cave.
Over these some finely-sifted potting shed soil was sprin-
kled, but not to quite cover them, so that they might be
carefully watched. On September 5 the first dish of
potatoes, of good size and excellent quality, was picked.
As everything looked so encouraging we made frequent
successions to follow on, with the result that we have
been gathering (not digging) young potatoes throughout
the autumn and winter.
Tubers Bear a Second Crop — Our practice has
been to grow the earliest supply in pots, followed by frame
culture. In these cases the plants have to be turned out,
or dug up, and the very small ones are practically wasted.
In our caves we pick off those that are ready, and leave the
little ones to come on, so that the old tubers give a succes-
sion. Strange to say, some tubers that had borne a crop,
after a short interval, showed signs of bearing a second
time; we have tried them, with fairly good results. It is
curious that very little root-action or leaf growth is made,-
I may almost say none at all.
In a Mushroom House — We have, in addition to
the caverns, tried them in our mushroom house, with satis-
tory results. We also tried them in a frame with a little
heat. In this case the tubers were covered with about
two inches of the fine soil, to prevent the young potatoes
becoming green. This also was very successful. In
gathering from the frame, we draw away the fine soil with
the hand, lift out the old tubers, pick off the young ones
that are ready, and replace the old ones. This handling
of the old tubers, which is necessary when gathering, does
not seem to hurt them the least. Satisfactory crops have
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NOVEL POTATO CULTURE. 1)5
been obtained from beneath stages in the glasshouses, and
from boxes. Underground cellars would be capital places
for their culture.
Good Flavoured Tubers — I am quite sure all who
may adopt this system of potato culture will be delighted
with the results. Windsor Castle is the only variety I
have tried ; probably other maincrop or late varieties would
do as well. In all cases, large, firm tubers should be
selected. I much prefer the young potatoes grown as I
have described to those early forced in the usual way.
They are less close and waxy."
CHAPTEK XIA^
LIFTING, PACKING, AND MARKETING.
When field crops of potatoes are to be marketed imme-
diately after raising, as is the case with most early and
second early crops, it is best to sort, weigh, and pack them
in the field, as this reduces labour, and involves the least
damage from moving and shaking about. Early potatoes,
especially, are very tender, the skins rubbing off quite
easily ; so the less they are handled and shifted about
before being finally packed the better.
Lifting^ the Crop. — Where there is a large area of
potatoes to be harvested, it is quite worth while to use a
potato plough of some sort to do the work of hfting, as
this makes a great saving of time and labour. Particulars
of such implements will be found in the chapter on " Im-
116 THE POTATO.
plements and Appliances." But with less extensive crops,
such as have to be dealt with on small holdings and in
gardens, the raising is, of course, done by hand. For this
purpose a broad-tined fork is the best implement; and
with this a skilled hand will quickly and easily lift a large
piece in a day, laying out the roots evenly and neatly along
the rows, ready for the tubers to be shaken off and pat.hered
by the pickers. An ordinary potato plough does not leave
the tubers quite so handily; but if alternate rows are
ploughed first burying is reduced to a minimum, and any
tubers that are left in the soil can be picked up when the
field has been cultivated after the clearing of the crop.
This is well worth doing, as a surprising number are usually
turned out by the cultivator, however carefully the crop
has been lifted. The work of ploughing or digging is best
done when the land is in a fairly dry and friable condition,
as then the potatoes turn out clean, and the soil is im-
proved in condition.
Picking- up the Crop. — Either women or boys are
employed for this work, the former usually being far pre-
ferable. Wooden baskets, such as are called " trugs " in
Susse:x and " bodges " in Kent, are as good as anything
for collecting into ; but any handy-sized baskets may be
used. The potatoes should be sorted into three grades:
ware or firsts, seconds or seed, and chats or tail; and it is
handy to sort into these sizes whilst gathering behind the
diggers or plough. One woman or boy can collect ware
only, another coming afterwards and taking seconds, and
a third gathering the tail and any broken or diseased tubers
that are left. If preferred, the ware can be collected
separately, and the other two samples together, the tail
and seconds being afterwards separated in a sieve or riddle
of the correct gauge. There is often some trouble in get-
ting the pickers to sort the size? properly ; but this can
soon be corrected, especially if thto most reliable hands are
set to gather the ware, and the least experienced the tail.
In any case, a final picking over can be done when the
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118 THE POTATO.
baskets are brought up to the weighing machine for the
potatoes to be packed. In wet weather, or on heavy land,
the potatoes are likely to be coated with dirt, in which
case this must be rubbed off with the hands, or else thrown
out in a sieve. It is best not to raise more potatoes than
can be collected in a day, or the dirt may get hardened on
to them, and a shower would make a mess of them, and
of the freshly-turned soil. If the potatoes. are to be
clamped they may be either bagged up or simply thrown
loose into carts for conveyance to the clamp.
Weighing. — It is a capital plan to have the weighing
machine on a wooden platform, fitted with handles at each
end — just like a hand-barrow, only without legs. Two
men can then carry it about, so that it is always in the
part of the field where the work of raising is going on.
If it is not kept close to the pickers the work of carrying
the baskets of potatoes to the weighing machine is very
heavy, and time is lost unnecessarily. The platform
makes it easy to keep the scales level. Without it they
would work into the ground, and the packing and weigh-
ing would be more diflicult. The weighing machine should
be such as will support a good large barrel or sack. The
empties, unless they are bags, are first weighed with any
packing material that is to be used in the bottom. It is
often convenient to weigh a number to start with, writing
the weight on the label, or chalking it on to the empty
itself. If this is not done it is no easy matter to cope
with the work when the potatoes are being brought m fast.
The Empties. — If the grower is sending his crop to a
salesman, the choice of empties does not concern him
much, as he has to accept what the salesman supplies.
However, for very early potatoes bushel baskets are
usually sent. Later on barrels of various sizes are most
in favour, the best of them being fitted with basket-work
lids. The potatoes travel very well in either baskets
or barrels, if they are sufficiently large to hold
LiFTiNG, PAClClN(S, ANb MARKETING. Il9
the proper quantity. Bags are used a great deal^
especiallj' late in the season. They are not as good as the
barrels; but it is not of so much importance with the later
crops, as the potatoes have then matured, and the skins do
not rub and bruise so easily, being harder. Bags are at
all times good enough for tail, but the best empties should
be reserved for the ware when possible.
■ 'Packing^. — When bags are used there is no great art
about the packing. Nothing more can be done than to see
that the tubers are clean and well sorted. The grading is
most important, as an even sample will always obtain a
better price in the market than a mixed one, even if com-
posed of rather small tubers. The bags are simply filled
until of the weight required ; the mouth is tied up securely ;
and a label is attached, on which are written the destina-
tion, grade, and weight. All the bags should be made to
contain the same weight if possible; at any rate, they
should not contain odd pounds, but lowt., licwt., and so
on. With barrels more care can be bestowed on the pack-
ing. A little packing material is placed at the bottom
before the empty is weighed. Then, as the baskets of
potatoes, ready sorted, are brought up to the scales by
the pickers, the contents are emptied carefully into the
barrels. When these are full they are lifted on to the
scales, and if not of correct weight are made so by taking
a few tubers out, or by putting in a few more, as the case
may be. Allowance is, of course, made for the weight of
the empty barrel. The top layer of potatoes is levelled
off, but is not "topped up " with fine specimens. Finally
a little more packing material is placed on the top, and is
secured, either by the basket-work lids already mentioned,
or by cords which are fixed round the rims of the barrels
for the purpose. Most of the barrels contain Icwt. of
potatoes, though some are smaller, and a fevi^ larger.
Early potatoes that are marketed in bushel baskets are
packed in the same way as those in barrels, but with more
care, as they are more delicate and valuable. Tubers
120 THE POTATO.
forced under glass should be packed almost as carefully
as apples. Stout paper is usually tied over the tops of
baskets over the packing material; but " benders " may be
used instead if preferred.
Packing: Material. — It is a very common practice to
use the potato haulm for packing purposes, as it is always
handy. This does fairly well for barrels, though if too
green and young, it is apt to become rather messy at the
bottom. Eough hay, such as is cut from the bases of
hedges, is a good deal better. It may be used green if
preferred, straight away after cutting. Anj" litter that
happens to be plentiful and cheap may be utilised for pack-
ing potatoes, the haulm being perhaps, the least desirable.
Packing Late Crops — Crops that are stored in
sheds or clamps are packed as already described for early
crops. Bags are invariably used for these, the potatoes
being shovelled into them with a wooden or open-work
metal shovel (see " Implements and Appliances "). They
may be graded bj' hand, in sieves, or in one of the larger
sorting machines specially made for the purpose.
iVIisceilaneous Hints — For small crops, or when
sending to a local market, many kinds of empties often
have to be used. This does not matter so long as the
grading is good — this is the important point. Hampers,
baskets, boxes, bags, or almost any receptacles may be
pressed into the service. Great care must always be taken
that no diseased tubers are included in a market sample,
as these bring down the price immediately. The endea-
vour should always be to send up a clean, well-graded,
evenly-packed sample, so that a name may be gained for
fair packing and good quality. The tail are usually sold
locally as pigs' potatoes; it would not pay to send these
to the vegetable market. If a good variety is grown it
often pays better to market only the firsts, disposing
of the seconds for seed purposes.
i
O
122 THE POTATO.
;,-,, CHAPTEE XV.
STORING POTATOES.
,-*^lif'
A GREAT bulk of the late potato crop is npt marketed
straight from the field, but is stored for disposal during the
winter and spring. Seed potatoes, also, have to be stored
in such a way as to keep them sound and safe from frost
until they are wanted for planting. The chief essential
for successful storing is that the potatoes be well matured
before being lifted, as unripe tubers do not store well.
In the southern parts of the country there is no difficulty
about this, as the haulm dies off early, and the crop quickly
matures or ripens; but further north the life of the crop
is longer, and the haulm is often found green when the
lateness of the season and the fear of frost necessitate
lifting. In such cases, recourse is occasionally had to
mowing or cutting the haulm a few weeks before lifting,
which has the same effect in ripening the tubers as if the
haulm had died down naturally. This plan is seldom
necessary, however, as inmostcases where the haulm lives
long, the first frost kills it off in time for the tubers to
mature and be lifted before there is a danger of frosts
severe enough to injure them.
Picking out Unsound Potatoes.. — Another very
important point in successful storing is to make sure that
no tubers showing signs of disease or unsoundness are in-
cluded amongst those to be stored. These fnust be care-
fully picked out and burnt, or they may be fed to pigs.
They should on no account be thrown about the field, or
they may carry infection to future crops grown on the
124 THE POTATO.
same ground. If they are included in a store they will
quickly spread disease and rot to the sound tubers sur-
rounding them ; and in this way disease often spreads like
wild-fire through large clamps or stores. In the case of a
badly-diseased crop it is impossible to detect all that are
affected, as the trouble is not always developed sufSciently
to be externallj' visible ; but it will develop afterwards in
the clamp. To guard against this, experiments have been
made in the use of various preparations with which to
coat the potatoes, and considerable success has attended
the use of quicklime for this purpose. The lime is dusted
over the potatoes before storing, and carefully mixed with
them, so that each tuber is coated. However, this plan
is not likely to commend itself much to growers, except
perhaps for seed, on account of the trouble of cleaning the
potatoes before they can be fit for marketing, though the
lime is said to shel^ off easily.
Clamps, Pits, or Graves — The most usual way of
storing potatoes is in clamps, pits, or graves, and the
process is much the same as the clamping of mangolds and
other farm roots. A glance at the illustration on p. 125 will
make the appearance of a clamp fairly plain. The posi-
tion for a clamp or pit should be a dry one, if possible, as a
low, wet situation encourages rot and the spread of
disease, besides which, where moisture or drainage water
penetrates frost is likely to follow. For this reason the
clamp should be made on the surface of the soil, the base
being not more than nine inches below, just to make a
good foundation, and to keep the tubers from rolling down
whilst being heaped up. The first operation, then, is to
dig out this foundation, making it about three feet wide,
and as long as may be thought necessary. The width may
be made five feet if preferred, and this is perhaps more
useful when the clamp is to be a large one. The potatoes
are piled up on the base of the clamp in a long ridge-shaped
heap, and the height is regulated by the size of the base,
the tubers being heaped as high as they will lie naturally.
STORING POTATOES.
125
The potatoes may be put into sacks for conveyance to the
clamp, or simply be thrown into carts as raised, and
brought loose. On wet soils the tubers should be placed
on the surface and a trench dug round as per diagram to
drain away the water.
Section of a Potato Clamp.
A — The toberB. B — A layer of clean straw. C — Layer of soil. E — A trench dug
roond the clamp to drain away moistnre. The soil removed is used to cover
the clamp, as shown at C.
Covering the Clamp — As a first covering to the
potatoes put a thick layer of dry straw, so thick that when
pressed down by the soil it will still be six inches deep.
Then give a six-inch layer of soil, making the surface firm
with the spade. For convenience the soil for this is gener-
ally dug from close around the clamp, the spits or spade-
fuls being taken up solid, and built up round the clamp on
the top of the straw. Chimneys or shafts must be left in
the ridge for ventilation, at intervals of about six feet. The
usual way of making these is by digging a hole through the
soil of the ridge, and pulling through a handful of straw,
leaving it sticking out from the top of the clamp. These
chimneys are to allow the escape of heated air, generated
by the fernaept,g,tijpn which is sure to take place when the
126 THE POTATO.
potatoes are first stored. After a week or two these chim-
neys may be closed, as there is some danger of severe frost
entering through them ; but they are often left open all the
time without bad results. As already mentioned, a thatch
of straw may be placed over the earth ; but this is neces-
sary only if the clamp is particularh' exposed to frost and
cold winds. The effect of frost entering a clanip is very
serious, so that it is worth while to make as sure as possible
against it. For this reason anj- wide cracks that appear in
the soil covering should be made good.
Another Method of Clamping' Potatoes. —
The followiug plan illustrated and described in " Amateur
Gardening," by H.C.R., is also a good one, especially for
storing garden crops: The site or position must be dry,
and the clamp run from north to south. The reason for
this is that, when it runs from east to west the whole side
of the clamp is exposed to the north, and great difficulty
will be experienced in keeping out the frost ; whilst only
one end faces the north when the clamps are built as
advised. If the soil is sandy and drj- the clamps may be
sunk into the ground to a depth of about twelve inches,
but when the soil is at all retentiA^e or moist, the potatoes
must be placed on the surface. When the tubers are not
very dry, the clamp must not be more than two feet six
inches wide at the bottom, but if they are thoroughly dry
the width may be as much as four feet, whilst the length
is, of course, unlimited; and the heap should be carried
up from the base to the apex similar to the roof of a house,
and as steep as practicable. A system of ventilation
must be adopted. This is constructed of various ma-
terials, whichever is the handiest, in the following manner.
Agricultural drainpipe^, or inverted channel bricks may be
used, sketches of these being given in Figs. 1 and 2 re-
spectively, whilst a ventilation duct may be formed of
ordinary bricks in a similar manner to Figs. 3 and 4.
These pipes, channel brick's, or common bricks, are fixed
on the ground through the length of the clamp, side
STORING POTATOES.
127
branches being put in every six feet, as shown in Fig 5,
the ends, of course, being open to the air. The ends of the
Fiq 3
riq 4.
• i ■ W 6 - o W 6 o \^ 6 '' c
M
irnr
Fig 5
Ventilating a Potato Clamp.
FOR VZttTILATIOi^
: FOR VEfifTILATIOfl/.
'' BRAf/CH PIPE FOU VENTILATION
FVcLi.
Section of a Potato Clamp.
pipes or bricks should not butt close to each other, but a
small space should be left between each, say one inch,
128 THE POTATO.
to admit the air and allow it to circulate amongst the
potatoes. Pipes should also be inserted in the apex of the
clamp as afterwards described. When the potatoes are
in position, the sides and ends of the clamp should be
covered with a layer of straw, and afterwards a layer of
earth, taking care to leave an opening or kind of gutter
along the ridge or apex, to allow jjlenty of ventilation in
case any heat should generate amongst the tubers. Of
course, this opening should be made water-tight with
straw in wet weather. As winter approaches this gutter
should be dispensed with, and made up with straw and
soil, pipes, extending from the potatoes to the outer
air, being fixed about every six feet along the ridge,
as shown in Fig. 6, and also a second layer of straw and
earth placed over the clamp, as also shown in Fig. 6. The
central and branch ventilating pipes are shown in the
same sketch. When the weather becomes severe, all the
ventilatit)n openings, except those along the ridge, must
be blocked up, and the clamp made perfectly frost-proof.
Turning: the Potatoes — If the potatoes are stored
for a long time, or if decay is found to have set in, it is
necessary to turn them. This is usually done as a matter
of course early in February, or sooner if required. The
object is to remove any decayed tubers, which would infect
others if left with them, and also to rub off any shoots
that may have pushed from the eyes of the tubers. Some-
times this operation requires doing more than once, as
when decay is very bad, or shooting is found to occur again
after the shoots have been rubbed off once. The clamp
is opened at one end, and the potatoes shovelled into a
riddle, where they are picked over by hand, any decayed
ones being thrown out. If they are a mixed sample this
is a good opportunity for sorting them, in either hand
riddles or a sorting machine. The different grades can
then be clamped separately. Any shoots that are found,
and there is often quite a mat of them, must be rubbed off
by hand. As the tubers are dealt with they are again
z;
o
S
130 THE POTATO.
clamped, starting the new clamp opposite the open end of
the old one, and so using the same foundation or base.
Care must be taken not to open the pit during severe frost.
Storing in Sheds — Where there is sufficient accom-
modation, ripe potatoes may be stored in buildings or
sheds, if covered with a good thickness of straw, which
serves to exclude both light (which would green them) and
frost. This method involves less labour than clamping,
and the tubers are more easily got at when wanted for
sale. Care should be taken not to allow them to rest
against the walls of the building, as frost is liable to injure
them through the walls, unless these are very thick. A
good thickness of straw or other litter inakes all safe. The
potatoes may be placed in heaps of almost any size ; but
if a very great depth is stored it is well to make ventilating
shafts of straw at intervals of a few feet. Potatoes stored
in this way are not likely to sprout to any great extent;
but, should they do so, they may be turned as described
for those stored in clamps.
Storing: Green Potatoes — Some growers are be-
lievers in green or unripe seed potatoes — that is, potatoes
that are lifted before the crop is really mature. As already
mentioned, such tubers do not keep so successfully as ripe
ones in ordinary clamps, but they may be stored in shallow
pits in the earth, not more than two feet deep, covered
only by a good thickness of straw, and not by any soil at all.
Storing: Tubers for Planting-. " Seed ' tubers
may be stored in the special boxes illustrated and de-
scribed in Chapter VII., or in the following manner: A sec-
tion of a useful i-a"k for storing " seed " potatoes is shown
in Fig. 7, ^^^hilst Fig. 8 is the end elevation, and Fi^. 9
shows how the potatoes are placed in it. This rack can be
constructed by anyone with a little spare time, and will
be found very handy and well worth the time and trouble
spent on it. The size can he as desired, four feet six
STORING POTATOES.
LSI
Fiq 7.
© Fiq P.
n q 10 .
Storing Seed Potatoes.
132 THE POTATO.
iuclies long by tw o feet three inches wide being mentioned
as a suggestion onlj^ The legs are three inches square,
the boards round the sides and ends four inches by three-
quarters of an inch, and the laths forming the stays about
two inches by one inch. The laths are fixed at an angle
of 45 deg., with a small space between each, as shown on
the sketch. Other necessary dimensions are also given on
the sketches. The rack can be made any height desired,
and the potatoes can be readily turned over and examined.
Or the " seed " tubers can be stored in boxes, a good and
simply made box being shown in Fig. 10. It is similar
to an ordinary box except that, instead of the sides being
solid, they are formed of two two inch by one inch laths,
fixed as shown in the accompanying sketch, Fig. 10. The
laths serve as handles, and at the same time the air is
allowed to circulate freely amongst the contents.
CH.»iPTRU XYI.
ON REARING NEW VARIETIES.
Foe fifty years or more a few enthusiastic potato experts
have been quietly and busily engaged in rearing new and
improved forms of the potato. Few, however, recognised
the importance of this quiet, unostentatious labour, or
even troubled themselves very much about it. It was
not till the celebrated Northern Star and Eldorado ap-
peared and created such a boom in the agricultural and
horticultural world that people began to interest them-
selves in so important a branch of horticultural science
as the crossing and rearing of new varieties of the popular
tuber. Workers like Robert Fenn, William Paterson, and
Maincrop Kidney Potato — Vermont Gold (Join.
jNlAJsJORor KuoND Potato — Sir John J^'ranklin.
134 THE POTATO.
Messrs. Sutton and Sons, had, however, been working
steadily for long years before the boom occurred in experi-
menting with the crossing and intercrossing of the potato,
with a view to obtaining free cropping, high flavoured, and
disease-resisting properties. And to-day we have as the
result of their labours many reallj' fine varieties of potatoes
for field and garden culture. It is true, some of the earlier
reared progenj' have not, in the long vista of years, re-
mained quite up to the standard of perfection they first
possessed, but that is inevitable after many years of cul-
ture. In later times, ]\Ir. A. Findlay has come to the
rescue, and given us, as theresultof patient toil and much
skill, newer sorts that we hope may keep up the succes-
sion of really good varieties, if not materially improve
upon the older ones. It is, perhaps, Mr. Findlay's misfor-
tune that the varieties he has given us should have been
so unwisely boomed before a good opportunity had been
aSorded of thoroughly testing their merits, so as to demon-
strate that they were really a distinct improvenrent upon
existing kinds, and worthy of the exceptional value set
upon them. Still, we know Mr. Findlay to be a conscien-
tious, painstaking worker in this particular domain, which
he has allocated to himself, and hence we look forward to
the time when the present hj'sterical boom will be over, to
see much real and lasting good coming from the varie-
ties he and other genuine raisers are now giving forth to
the world.
The Chief Aim in View. — The chief aim in view
in the rearing of new varieties by crossing is, or should
be, to obtain an improvement on existing sorts now in com-
merce. We want primarily varieties that are capable of
resisting the fell disease which has wrought such havoc
among potato crops in this country. At the same time, we
want varieties that will yield well, be of hardy constitu-
tion, and above all, possess good flavour. We do not want
varieties of handsome form, so that they will " sell " in
more senses than one, but sorts that, while presentable
ON REARING NEW VARIETIES. 135
in appearance, will cook well and be of good flavour. It
is notorious that many of the sorts that are now grown
largely, and which are put upon the market, are deficient
in flavour. The British public, therefore, want those who
take in hand the rearing of new varieties to bear in mind
that flavour is a feature of as great an importance as
disease-resisting powers and free cropping qualities. There
is a fortune yet awaiting the man who can turn out a really
good flavoured variety in conjunction with the other att)-i-
butes. The nearest approach, in ovn' opinion, to 1his
much-desired goal of perfection is Sutton's Discovery. If
it only retains its disease-resisting powers, and continues
to crop freely, as well as retain its present excellent flavour
and first-rate cooking qualities, its success will be assured.
Faults to Avoid — The chief fault to avoid in the
rearing of new varieties is, first of all, coarseness in size.
Big tubers, however tempting they may be to the cottager
for quickly filling his pot, are not wanted for ordinary use.
Thej' are wanting in flavour and ugly when served on the
table. Neither do we, as previously intimated, want
handsome-shaped tubers at the expense of flavour. Nor
are varieties required with deep eyes ; these mean a lot of
waste when they are peeled for cooking. In selecting and
growing seedlings year after year to test their cropping
and disease-resisting powers, special attention should bo
paid to their cooking properties and flavour, and, if want-
ing in these essential features, they should be promptly
discarded.
How Nevi/ Varietiec- are Obtained — Supposing
the above points are clearly borne in mind, and the reader
is anxious to try his skill in rearing a new variety by cross-
fertilisation, he must go to work as follows: His first care
must be to have a definite object in his mind as to what he
is going to try to achieve by the process — whether, for
instance, he is going to aim at a heavier yield, a better-
shaped tuber, or a better-flavoured variety. We will suj)-
pose, also, that one of the varieties possesses the good
136 THE POTATO.
qualilies of flavour and shape, but is lacking in vigour,
and that the other is a free cropper, but more ^igorous,
and that it is desired to combine the two quaHties or pro-
perties in one. The proper course to pursue, then, will
be to cross the weaker with the stronger variety and await
the result. In some cases it may be well to make a re-
ciprocal cross, i.e., oue with the other.
Act of Cross-fertilisation. — Each flo\\'er contains
a stigma or female organ in the centre, and clustering
round its base are the five anthers or male organs, which
contain the pollen. (See p. 138.) Unectly the flower
Mainckop Round i'onTO — LiM Grav.
begins to open the anthers (6) m.ust be removed care-
fully with a pair of fiine-pointed scissors, as shown on
p. 139. This is necessary to prevent its own pollen
from falling on the stigma (7) and self -fertilising the
ovary (,5). It is well also to tie a piece of soft
muslin round the emasculated flower. You have now
to examine the flowers of the other variety which is
to act as the male or husband. You may have to examine
dozens of flowers before you will find one with its anthers
bearing the precious pollen in a powdery form, as some
varieties are exceedingly shj' pollen-bearers, o\^"ing to the
energies of the plant being occupied in producing tubers at
the expense of full de\'clopnient. of its masculine attributes.
\\'hcn you do find the pollen dust, collect it carefull^\ on
I
^1
<
l.SS
THE POTATO.
the point of a clean, dry camel-hair bL-ush and gently brush
It on the point of the stigma or female organ (7) that you
had previously protected by means of muslin. You must,
liowever, not do this too prematurely, but wait till you
observe the point of the stigma covered with a viscous-
looking fluid. Then, and then only, the stigma is ready
for the nuptial rites to be performed. You then recover
the bloom with the muslin, and, after a day or so, fertilisa-
Section of Potato Flower.
tion will be complete, the petals will shrivel, and the tiny
berry will gradually develop into the familiar potato apple.
At the time the cross is effected affix a label to the flower
stalk, containing some special number or mark, which
should be duly recorded in your pocket book. Do not re-
move the muslin ; this will serve to prevent the berry when
ripe from falling and scattering its precious seeds. It will
ON REARING NEW VARIETIES.
139
easily be ascertained when tJae berry is ripe, and then the
latter should be gathered, placed in a box in a room to be-
come thoroughly dry, after which remove the seeds, place
them in a packet and store them away safely till spring,
when sow as advised in Chapter VI.
A Word of Caution — Simple as the process of cross-
fertilisation may appear, let no one entertain the idea that
Section of EMAScULATtu Floweu.
the rearing of sterling new varieties is an easy task. It is
one requiring very many years of patient toil and perse-
verance, as well as great skill, to attain even one success.
You may get among your first year's seedlings a large
number of very promising tubers, some that will astonish
you as regards size and productiveness. Do not think for
one moment that you have attained success. The next
140 THE POTATO.
year, the uext, and so ou, your first-born seedlnigs will
probabl}- deteriorate instead of imiirovmg, and at the end
of six to ten years' trials, you may have to discard all of
them. Messrs. Wutton and Sons ha^-e often assured us
that what looked like a pronnsing, ideal potato, after years
of trial, had finally to be discarded. It is sheer folly on the
part of those growers who, since tlie boom in new potatoes
started, have raised seedlings and begun to put them in
commerce. Is'o seedling potato can possibly claim to have
its real character fixed in one or two years ; it is a matter
of six to ten years' repeated trials, in order to thoroughly
test the variety, before it is safe or honest to place it in
commerce as a standard variety. The raiser of new
sorts must therefore be prepared to devote man}- years to
the rei)eated trials of his seedlings before he can honestly
claim for them fixity of character.
CH.VPTER XVII.
POTATO PESTS.
The potato has many insect enemies, but the chief one is
the wire worm. In light soils and in newly-broken-up
pasture land, this pest is often a serious nuisance to potato
growers. Fortunately, we are not troubled with another
very serious pest which commits such havoc among Ameri-
can potato crops — the Colorado Beetle. It is true it has
made its appearance in this country, but, thanks to prompt
action, its career has been cut short. The remaining pests
which occasionally attack the jiotato are not vei-y numer-
ous, but all that arc known to inflict any serious injury
will be dealt with in this chapter.
Mainckop Round Potato — Peckovkr.
-^ '» ■w^
' e, *i ■
.. '-^ '
Mainckop Kidney Potato— The HiGHLAsDyK
142
THE POTATO.
Wireworm. — Wireworms are of two kinds, true and
false, and the former are, perhaps, the most destructive
of all pests that attack the potato. They exist in the
grub state from three to five years, aud during that time
feed voraciously on the roots of farm crops, including the
potato, not resting content with one, but passing from
root to root, gnawing here and there, and inflicting very-
severe damage. True wireworms have six legs, whereas
the false wireworms (millepedes) have many more. The
Click Beetle, of which the ^^ireworm is the grub, is well
known, children often finding them dur.ng the summer in
Click. Beetle and Wikeworm.
a— Wireworm ; h — tail joint; c — parent of -wireworm ; d — auteunre of beetle :
t— natural size of click beetle.
grass fields, laying them on their backs, and watching
them regain their position by giving a spring in the air.
The noise which accompanies this movement is the origin
of the name " Click." There are three species, the larva;
of which are harmful to the potato, namely, Agriotes
lineatus, obscurus, and sputator. The grubs are hatched
from eggs laid in the soil near the roots of plants, or occa-
sionally in the lower leaves, where they envelop the stem.
They start feeding at once, devouring the underground
stems, continuing for a period of at least three years, going
deeper into the soil during the winter months. At the end
of their grub existence they descend into the earth, and
change into beetles, which emerge in about three weeks.
POTATO PESTS. 143
The beetles generally appear during August, but occasion-
ally remain in the chrysalis state all the winter, and
emerge in the spring.
Remedies. — There are a variety of measures calculated
to lessen the prevalence of this pest, and the potato
grower is advised thoroughly to test the efficacy of each.
Profitable crops on land infested by wireworm are utterly
impossible. Gas liming and harrowing will destroy num-
bers of insects, and in many cases benefit the land as well.
Paring and burning may also be practised, though the
grubs go down pretty deeply, and if only a few inches are
removed many will remain untouched. Summer fallow-
ing, and the collection into heaps and burning of all rub-
bish will also account for many of the pests, and by de-
stroying many of the roots on which they feed others will
be reduced to starvation. In cases of new infestation it
would be best to leave the ground uncropped for some
time, putting on a heavy dressing of fresh gas-lime, which
will kill everything, the grubs included. Of course, crop-
ping will be delayed, but it is waste of time and money to
keep on sowing afresh, simply to provide food for the
hungry pests. It must be remembered that wireworms
injure more than they actually destroy, and that the weaker
the crop the more will this injury be felt. By good culture
and the use of stimulating manures, such as potash and
nitrates, the plants will often attain sufficient stamina
to withstand partial attack. Among root crops, constant
stirring with the hoes will annoy the pests, and encourage
rapid growth at the same time. Moles, though undesirable
in great numbers, certainly devour a great number of the
pests, and the same may be said of rooks. It is said that
wireworms have a great objection to White Mustard, and
it might be well on newly-broken lands to sow this crop,
so as to starve out the pests before planting with potatoes.
Half measures are perfectly useless with this particular
pest, and unless some decided steps are taken to clear the
land of them, the same field may be infested for years.
Next to gas-liming, the use of quick-acting manures to
144'
THE POTATO.
encourage strong growth, the frequent aeration of (he soil,
and the free use of soot, are measures best calculated to
effect a clearance. in gardens dressing the soil with
kainit at the rate of a pound per sq'.iare rod : ^^■ith quick-
lime in February at the rate of three bushels per square
rod ; and nitrate of soda at the rate of one pound per
square rod before earthing the potatoes up, will do much
towards preventing injury to the potato crop.
M.-HNCKOF Round Potato — ,Syon HoasE Prolific.
Millepedes or False Wirewvorms. — These are
often confused with the true wirewoim, although they are
really distinct from the latter. They do not belong to the
insect tribe, but to another closely allied tribe, the Myrio-
poda. Their bodies are composed of a number of rings,
each furnished with one or two legs on each side. Owing
&M
14f
THE POTATO.
lo the large iiumbei- of feel they possess they are popu-
Jarly called •■Thousand Feet." The hurtful species are
Julus guttatiis (Figs. "J and 3), an inch long, slender, with
Millipedes
an ochreoLis-coloured body, spotted with crimson : Julus
terrestris, about an inch long, of a pitchy or leaden hue,
and more or less cylindrical'in shape (Fig. 4); and Poly-
desmus complanatus (Fig- 7), a short, flat kind, with a
CENTirEDEf.
lilac-tinted body. In company with these three pests will
often be sesn two similar creatures, the Centipede (Litho-
biuB forcipatus), a short, acli\e little animal, with a
POTATO PESTS.
147
smooth, shining, ochreous-coloured body, furnished with
thirty feet (Fig. 2) ; and another long and blender crea-
ture — two to three inches long — with numerous legs and
an ochreous-brown tinted body, named Geophilus longi-
cornis (Fig. 3). The latter moves with a waving motion
from right to left, and is very active. These two crea-
tures are carnivorous in habit, and do no harixi to vegeta-
tion. The millepedes, however, are very destructive, and
attack the tubers with as much voracity as the wireworms.
Remedies. — Badly drained, wet or weed-infested lands are
favourite haunts of these pests. Soil that is properly tilled,
kept clean, and well limed occasionally is rarely much
troubled with millepedes. The remedies advised for the
eradication of the wireworm are equally applicable to the
milleiiedes.
Colorado Beetle (Doryphora decemlineata).— This
is an American pest, which has happily not established
F-eiiSi.
Colorado Potato Beetle and its Mimics.
1— FieH Chafer. 2— False Lady Bird. S— Spine- Beetle. 4— Large Lady BiriJ.
5_Oolorado Potato Beetle, ti — Brown Woodloase Beetle. 7— Crreeu Rose Beetle.
S— Wbeat Beetle.
l2
148
THE POTATO.
Perfect Insect. Larva.
CoLOKADO Potato Beztle (^Doryphora decemlineata).
POTATO PESTS. 149
itself in this country', although it has made one or two
futile attempts to do so. The female beetle is a little under
half an inch in length, the male being shghtly smaller.
The colour of the beetle is yellow, with five longitudinal
dark lines on each wing case. The legs are reddish, and
the wings have a rosy hue. The eggs are oval in form, of
an orange colour, and are deposited in clusters of nine to
forty, mostly under one leaf. They are very similar to
those of the Lady-bird Beetle, but are smaller in size.
The larvas are of a dull reddish brown colour, and not
unlike those of the Lady-bird Beetle. When fully grown
the larvae are an inch long. They feed ravenously on the
leaves and stalks, and when fully grown fall to the ground
and pupate there in a few weeks. In America there are
two to three broods in a season. On the approach of cold
weather, the beetles descend to the earth, burying them-
selves a foot or more below the surface. The beetles are
extremely hardy and do not seem to be affected by the
cold or frost. There are numerous beetles which infest
potatoes, and as they may be mistaken for the Colorado
Beetle, we give illustrations of them, including the latter,
so that the real culprit may be more readily recognised.
Remedies. — In accordance with the " Colorado Beetle
Order, 1877," notice must be given to a police constable
directly one of these beetles is found. The constable
has then to communicate with the local authority, who in
turn has to telegraph to the Board of Agriculture. This
drastic measure, if promptly carried out, ensues immediate
steps being taken for stamping out the pest forthwith. The
larvae feed on other plants than the potato, as a small
colony of this pest was found at Tilbury, in Essex, in 1901,
feasting upon nightshade, cabbages, etc. The recognized
remedy is spraj^ing with a Paris green solution.
Dart Moth (Noctua [Agrotis] segetum). — A surface
cateriMllar, the progeny of the above moth, is harmful to
potatoes. The male moth has grey fore wings and white
150
THE POTATO.
hind wings, and the abdomen and thorax are also grey.
The hind wings of the female are \^■hite, while the fore
wdngs as well as the abdomen and thorax are brown. The
larvce feed on the tubers, boring holes into them. They are
about an inch long, and feed during the winter if circum-
Dart Moth (Noctua xegelnm).
stances are favourable (mild weather, etc) ; but if not, they
hibernate in earth cells. In tlie following spring they are
transformed into bi'own pupa? in thp earth, where they re-
main for about a month, and are then transformed into the
perfect insects or moths.
Eemedies. — The same as advised fo)- the Heart and Dart
Moth.
Heart and Dart Moth (Noctiia [Agrotis] exclama-
tionis). — The larva is known as a Surface Caterpillar. The
Heart and Dart Moth is of an ochreous colour ; the fore-
wings are brown, while the hind-wings of Ihe male are
white, those of the female being brown. The larva? are
about an inch and a-half long, and furnished with tuber-
cles, and when mature construct earth cells in which thev
FiKST Eaelt Kidney Potato — Ringlbadee.
PiKST Early Round Potato — Epkeka Extra Eaely
152
THE POTATO.
are transformed into pupis. The latter are of a reddish-
browji or chocolate colour, and hibernate in the earth-cells
until the following season. These grubs do a lot of injury
to the tubers, eating holes in them similarly to the injury
Heart and Daep Moth and Lakva (Noctua exclamalionis).
done by the Dart Moth larvae. They also feed on the
foliage.
Remedies. — Experience has shown that the best renredy
for this pest is to employ women or young folk to pick up
the larvae by hand. Dressings of lime, soot, and salt have
not proved effectual. Thoroughly hoeing the soil between
the rows will also prove effectual in killing these grubs.
Death's. Head Moth (Acherontia atropos). — The
larvae of this handsome moth feed upon the foliage of the
potato, but are rarely present in sufficient numbers to do
any seriousharm. The moth is very large, measuring four to
six inches across the spread of its wings. Its upper wings
are black, with an ashy tint, and its lower ones bright
orange ; both wings are also marked with other tints. ,0n
the thorax is an orange-coloured figure representing a
human skull, hence the common name of Death's Head.
The moth utters a plaintive squeak like that of a mouse.
The larvae are of the size of a lad's finger, and upwards of
three ipches long. Their colour is a yellowish green, with
POTATO PESTS. 153
seven oblique bands on each side, forming acute angles
on the back. The stripes or bands are blue, lilac, and
white. No one can possible mistake these handsome larvae
when seen. As they are never likely to be present in
large numbers, no steps need be taken to exterminate
them. Young entomologists woidd be only too glad to
DE-^iTH's-HEAD MOTH AND CATERriLLAR (REDnCF.D).
have all the larvoe they could find, so that, when found,
they should be given to the former. The larvae feed at
night, therefore should be sought for on a moonhght night
or by aid of a lamp. A few other larvae of n:ioths also feed
upon the foliage of the potato, among which may be speci-
ally mentioned the caterpillar of the Frosted Orange Moth
54
THE POTATO.
(Gortyna flavago), pale flesh colour, dotted with black and
shiiiir.g warts; th>"' i>ot Moth (Mamestra persicaria),
green, pinkish brown, striped with white; the Eustic
Shoulderknot (Apannea basilinea), brownish, with a
yellow line, and black dots; and the Dark Brocade
(Hadena adusta), green or purplish-green, smooth and
waxy in appearance. These, however, do no serious
damage.
Potato Frogr F'y (Eupteryx solani). — A small green-
ish fly which may be seen hopping about the potato foliage
in August and September. By means of a beak or ros-
POTATO FKOC Fi.Y.
trum they pierce the cuticle of the leaves and suck out the
sap. The females lay their eggs on the undersides of the
leaves, and from these are hatched little green larva?, which
also pierce the cuticles of the leaves, and feed tipon the
sap. B}' this means the cellular tissue becomes ruptured,
and the growth of the plant severely checked. The flies
have a habit of running to the opposite side of the leaf or
stem when disturbed in dull weather, and of hopping away
in sunny weather.
Remedies. — If very numerous, spray with an insecticide,
Otherwise do not bother about them.
I*/
Mainceop KiDNEr Potato — EvKKGOop.
Second Eakit Oval Potato— Ruby Qdeen'.
)5G
THE POTATO.
Potato Bug (Lygus solaiii). — Active little insects fur-
nished with a rostrum or beak, by means of which thej'
pierce the cuticle of the leaves, and extract the sap. The
perfect insects have green, shining bodies, and transparent
wings. They are very agile, leaping away at the slightest
touch. The insects are most abundant in August. The
injuries they inflict upon the foliage are similar to those
caused by the Potato Frog Fly, and the remedies are the
same.
Potato Gnat (Sciara furcata). — Curtis, in his " Farm
Potato Gn.vt.
Insects," refers to this insect and its larvae as feeding upon
potato tubers. As, however, it is doubtful if they attack
o
Pi
158
THE POTATO.
other than diseased or rotten tuber;
any further upon them.
need not dwell
Yellow Under.wing; Moth (Tryphrena pronuba]. —
The larva of this moth is about an inch and three-quarters
long and of a pale, sickly green colour, with a brown band
down the back, a pale line along the middle, and a line of
dark spots along each side. Thej" are generally somewhat
fat, and, when touched, curl up aito a ring. The moth is
Great Tellow Ukder-vmng Moth, Caterpillak axd Pupa.
often met with in pastures, etc., m June and July, where,
when disturbed, it flies a Uttle way and drops down again.
It is easily distinguished by its oohreous or chestnut-bxown
upper wings, and orange-yellow under wings, bordered with
black.
Kbmedies. — The same as advised for the Dart and Heart
and Dart Moth larvae. The larvs feed chiefly by night.
POTATO PESTS.
ISO
Slugs and Snails — Both are rather partial to the
young shoots of the potato, and, although the harm they
No, 67
Fig. 1, Milky Slug ; 2 and 3, Black Slugs.
do to ordinary potato crops is not of serious consequence,
yet in the case of new and choice sorts, the injury to or
The Gakde^- Snail.
loss of a shoot is of some importance. The Common
Snail (Helix aspera) and the Garden Snail (H. hortensis)
160 THE POTATO.
are the chief eul2')rits. An aihed species named H. nemor-
ahs also attacks potato slioots. Slugs, which are easily
distinguished from snails by the absence of a shell, are
still more destructive to potato crops. They not only
attack the shoots, but the young tubers also. The chief
culprits are the Black Slug (Arion ater), more or less black
in colour: Garden Slug (A. hortensis), small, slender, anci
striped with grey; Yellow ylug (Limax flavus), yello^\ ish ;
Field or Milky Slug (L. agrestis), greyish, and covered
with a milky slime; and the Large Slug (L. maximus),
spotted and streaked with black, and measuring six inches
in length when stretched out.
Remedies. — Where both slugs and snails are plentiful,
and likely to do harm to the crops, applj' a dressing of
equal parts of soot and lime on successive evenings and
mornings for three or four times, then the pests will be
destroyed. One api)lication is of no service as the slugs
can cast off the lime and soot with the slinue. But if
repeated as advised, it eventually penetrates the skin, and
kills the pests. Guano, nitrate of soda, and sulphate of
ammonia are also objectionable to slugs, so that where
these artificials are used slugs and snails will not be very
plentiful.
[The illustrations on pp. 146, 154, 156, and 159 are repro-
duced, by the courtesy and permission of JNlessrs. Oliver
and Boyd, Edinburgh, from 'J Curtis's Farm Insects."]
M
162 THE POTATO.
CHAPTEE XYIII.
DISEASES OF THE POTATO.
The potato, like many other vegetables, has its enemies.
Fortunately, in this country it is comparatively immune
from insect pests, but not so in regard to diseases. One,
at. least, has proved a formidable enemy to the potato ever
since its appearance was first noticed in Europe about
1845. From then onwards to the present time the disease
known as the Potato Blight has been a source of great
anxiety to potato growers. Science and skill, however,
have clearly demonstrated its life history, made growers
better acquainted with its manner of development, and
taught them the wisdom of adopting preventive measures
as a safeguard against attack. The up-to-date grower,
therefore, does not run the risk of injury to his crops by
disease, but uses his utmost endeavours first of all to
plant disease-resisting varieties; and secondly, to spray the
foliage with fungicides before the disease appears. The
grower who plants diseased tubers, or varieties prone to
disease, or waits till the disease is manifest in the foliage,
is on all-fours with the hero of the fable who " locked the
stable door after the horse was stolen." So much by the
way.
Potato Bligrht (PhytophtKora Infestans).
This is the dreaded disease which commits so much havoc
among the potato crop in wet seasons. . It first manifests
itself in the form of brown patches on the leaves, followed
by curling of the latter, and finally by their becoming black
and decayed. The disease is caused by a fungus, the
DISEASES OF THE POTATO. 163
mycelium of which penetrates the tissues ot the leaves and
destroys them. In due course the mycelium develops
what are technically known as conidiophores, or tiny stems
which appear in the form of a mould on the surface'. On
the conidiophores are borne conidia, which give birth to
zoospores. These, coming in contact with globules of
water, emit germ tubes that penetrate the epidermis of the
leaf or tuber, and eventually form the mycelium which
does so much mischief to the tissues. The mycelium will
often lie dormant in the tubers all the winter, and start
into activity when new growth begins in the soil. The
disease is mostly prevalent in rainy seasons.
Remedies. — First of all, let it be clearly understood that
it is quite useless applying remedies, once the foliage is
attacked by the bhght. The mischief is done then.
There is only one. course to pursue in such a case, and that
is to promptly cut off the diseased haulm and burn it. On
no account ought it to be permitted to remain on the land .
to decay, otherwise the disease will attack crops in future
years. Nor is it advisable to give diseased tubers to pigs,
since the disease will be transported with the manure,
and reconveyed to the land, ready to attack the next crop
of potatoes grown thereon. Eeally, there should be no
hesitation about burning both diseased haulm and tubers,
as then the disease will be eradicated. Infested land
should be liberally dressed with quickhme, and no. pota-
toes grown thereon for at least two or three years.
Spraying with Fungicides. — Repeated experiments have
demonstrated that it is possible to prevent an attack of the
Potato Blight bv one or more timely sprayings of the
foliage with a fungicide. According to leaflet No. 14
issued by the Department of Agriculture and Technical
Instruction for Ireland, the results of spraying _ potato
crops have been of a most gratifying nature. Experiments
have been made for three years with the following results :
m2
164
THE POTATO.
. 1900.
Sprayed with
Dafferia.
Suttuu's
riour Ball.
Beauty of Bute.
Sulphate of Copper
Lime
and
Tons. Owt.
10 14
Tons. Cn-t.
10 10
Tons. Cwt. ■
10 3
Sulphate of Copper
Washing Soda...
and
12
11 11
11 13
Not Sprayed ...
7 3
S 5
6 19
1901.
Sprayt
(1 with
Sutton's
Reliance.
Black Skerries.
Champiou II.
Sulphate of
Lime
Copper
and
Tons. Cwt.
12 7
Tons.
13
Cwt.
14
Tons. Cwt.
14 12
Sulphate of
Washing
Copper
Soda . . .
and
U 1
13
16
15 2
Not Sprayed
11 18
11
3
13 12
1902.
Sprayed with
Hibe
■nia.
Dr. M;
tthew.
World'
3 Fair.
Ton°.
Cwt.
Tous
Cwt.
Tous.
Cwt.
Sulphate of Copper
and
Lime
14
11
14
3
9
16 -
Sulphate of Copper
and
Washing Soda...
14
6
14
12
10
19
Not Sprayed
13
3
11
1
;
S
It will be observed that two fungicides were tised, and
of the two, the one composed of sulphate of copper anct
washiug soda appears to have yielded the best resultSi
Whichever mixture be decided upon, the first application
should be given at the end of June or earlj? hi July, and a
second spraying at the end of July. The spraying must be
done in fine and dry weather, and the mixture applied as
166 THE POTATO.
much as possible to the underside of the foliage, as it is
there where the disease will first appear. In the event of
rainy weather setting in soon after spraying, re-spra.y
directly it is fine again. About 120 gallons are sufticient
to spray a statute acre, or 194 gallons an Irish acre.
Bordeaux jMixture for Spraying. — The Bordeaux mix-
ture should be sprayed on to the crop, not watered on,
taking care to dew the underside of the leaves as well as
the upper surface. The materials recjuirod are; Copper
sulphate, 81bs. ; quicklime, 41bs. ; water, 40 gallons;
or the quantities may be proportionately reduced or
increased to suit the necessities of the case. Dis-
solve the copper sulphate by putting it in a bag of coarse
cloth and hanging this in a vessel holding at least 4
gallons, so that it is just covered by the "^i-ater. Use an
earthen or wooden vessel. Slake the lime in an equal
amount of water; then add this slowly to the copper solu-
tion, and enough water to make 40 gallons. The mix-
ture is then ready for immediate use. It should always
be remembered that the lime must be fresh and quick,
not old or air-slaked ; it should be slaked gradually so as to
secure a smooth paste, and then have water added to
make milk of lime. A good test for acidity in Bordeaux
mixture can be secured by means of a clean and
good steel knife blade; when the mixture is ready for use
insert the blade of a knife, and let it remain in the mixture
for a minute or so; if copper is deposited on the steel, or,
in other words, if the steel takes on the appearance of
copperplate, one may conclude that the mixture is unsafe
and likely to affect tender foliage, and more lime is
required. If, however, the blade remains unaffected,
the mixture is safe. Another test is made by pour-
ing a little of the solution in an old saucer, and
holding it up so as to get it between the eyes and the
light, breathe upon it gently for about half a minute ; if
properly made, a thin skin or pellicle will form on the
surface of the mixture, but if no pellicle forms it will be
necessary to add more milk of lime. Yet another test
DISEASES OF THE POTATO.
1C7
is to dip a strip of blue litmus paper in the solution. If it
turns red add more lime. If it remains blue the solution
is safe to use.
Copper and Soda Mixture for Spraying. — This mixture,
as recommended by the Irish Board of Agriculture, con-
sists of 21bs. of sulphate of copper of 98 per cent, purity ;
2^-lbs. of pure washing soda; and 10 gallons of clean water.
If a large quantity be desired, use 81bs. of sulphate of
copper; lOlbs. of washing soda; and 40 gallons of water.
To make the 10-gallon mixture dissolve the sulphate of
copper in 1 gallon of water, and the soda in another
gallon of water, then add the two to 8 gallons of water.
Potato Tdbfr Infected with Black Scab or W.'rt Diseask.
(See p. 170.)
For the larger quantity place the copper in a canvas bag
and steep it in 35 gallons of water till dissolved,
then dissolve the soda in 5 gallons of water, and mix the
two together. Add the soda solution slowly to the copper
mixture, and stir continuously. To ascertain if the mix-
ture is of the right strength test it with blue litmus paper.
If the paper turns red, add more washing soda till, with
further tests with the litmus paper, the latter remains
blue. The vessels used for the solution should be of wood,
and not of metal. Drain the solution through canvas bo-
THE POTATO.
fore putting it in the sprayer. See that the solulinn is
kept «-ell stirred, and bear in mind that sulphate of copper
is a poison, and therefore the solution sliould not be put
in j^ails or other receptacles that are to contain water for
drinking purposes. On no account pour the sulphate of
copper into the soda solution, but add the latter to the
[Potato Root Infected with Black Scab ok Wakt lajiEASK.
^^: (,'^eep. 170.)
former, and that slowly. Spray for the first time at the
end of June, again early in July, and lastly at the end of
that month. Spray when the foliage is dry only. See that
the undersides of the leaves are thoroughly moistened with
the solution. Use 120 gallons per statute acre, or 194
PL,
y.
o
no THE POTATO.
gallons per Irish acre. For further details about spraying
see Chapter XVII.
Black Scab or Wart Disease. — This is caused by
a fungus scientifically known as Oedomyces leproides or
Chlorophylictis endobioticas. It is a comparatively new
disease, only having been noticed in this country during
the last four or five years. It first attacks the young
sprouts, causing them to assume a brownish tinge, this
being followed by the formation of small warts. In due
course the warts increase in size and grow into each other,
almost enveloping the tuber, as shown in the specimens
illustrated. The warts eventually become a black mass
owing to the presence of resting spores. This new disease,
which is said to have been introduced from the Continent,
is so distinct in character that it cannot fail to be recog-
nised. See illustrations on pp. 167 and 168.
Remedies. — All diseased tubers should be promptly
burnt, and in the case of any apparently healthy tubers
saved from an infected crop for " seed," they should, be-
fore storing, be well dusted with flowers of sulphur, taking
care that the latter is well dusted into the " eyes '' of the
tuber. We think it equally advisable to be careful in the
use of sacks that have contained infected tubers, as it is
quite probable that the spores of the disease may be
present in them.
Bacteriosjs. — A disease of bacterial origin is very pre-
valent in America, and may find its way here. The par-
ticular germ is Bacillus solanacearum, and its presence is
indicated by the sudden drooping or wilting of the foliage,
followed by discoloration and collapse of the stem. On
cutting open a stem brown streaks will be seen which are
crowded with bacteria. The disease gradually spreads
downwards, till the tubers are reached, where it first forms
a pale zone, followed by a black one just inside.
Remedies. — Burning all infected foliage and tubers seems
DISEASES OF THE POTATO.
171
to be the only way of stamping the disease out. Tubers
with the brown ring inside should be avoided as sets.
Bacteri.1l Disease in Potatoes.
Sclerotium Disease (Sclerotinia Sclero-
tiorum). — This is a fungoid disease which attacks the
stems of potatoes just above the ground. It is in the form
of a white mould, which gradually creeps up the stems and
develops into small black bodies called sclerotia. When
the latter stage is reached the stem becomes limp, withers
and dies, seriously checking the growth of the tubers. In
dry weather, the white mould is not apparent on the outer
surface, the disease being more active within.
Remedies. — All foliage showing any indication of the
disease should be burnt, otherwise the disease will attack
a future crop. It appears that beans, peas, marrows,
cucumbers and turnips are liable to be attacked also.
Potato Rot (Phellomyces sclerotiophorus) —
According to Professor Johnson, D.Sc, F.L.S., of Dubhn,
a new potato disease, caused by a fungus, has made its
appearance in Ireland. It is reputed to form a scab on,
and also dry rot in, the tubers. Professor .Johnson first
observed the fungus in several potato varieties grown in
the west and other parts of Ireland in the autumn of 1901.
72 THE POTATO.
Phellomjees causes the formation of discoloured iiatclies in
the slxin of the tuber, in the. midst of which are generally
present the minute sclerotia 0,1 mm. in diameter, just re-
cognisable in washed tubers with the naked eye. In mild
attacks, the fungus simply makes the tuber unsightly; in
more severe cases it strips off layer after layer of the pro-
tecting skin of the tuber, and may ultimately penetrate
through the skin into the flesh of the tuber, killing the
protoplasm, sending the mycelial hyphse between and
through the cells, and boring into the starch grains. Phel-
lomyces can pass from seed tubers to the resulting crop,
and is communicable from infected ground to healthy
tubers grown in it.
Remedies. — Of course, but little is known at present as
to what steps to take to arrest the spread of this fungus.
Professor Johnson, howe^'er, found soaking the diseased
tubers in 0.8 per cent, solution of formalin for one and
a-half hours destroyed" thei fungus control, untreated tubers
giving a diseased crop. Three varieties imported from
France, planted in. Connemara, gave crops showing Sclero-
tinia sclerotiorum, and Phellomyces sclerotiophorus, all
unknown, in France, on the potato up to the present.
Frank first saw the fungus in various parts of Germany
in 1894.
Potato Scab — This is said by one authority to be a
disease of bacterial origin, the germ being ]\'Iicrococcus
pellucidus. It causes scab-like eruptions to form on the
surface of the tubers which render them unsightly. It has
been. found by experiment that tubers grown in sour soils,
or where lime, cinder ashes, or farmyard manure has been
lavishly used, are most susceptible to infection. Another
authority describes the disease as 'being caused by a fungus,
Sorosporium scabies. He says it forms large olive scabs
or patches on the skin of fully-grown tubers. According
to him, it is not very injurious, although depreciating the
market value of the tubers.
. ' Remedies — Seed which is not known to be all right
m
174
THE POTATO.
should be treated with a dressing of corrosive sublimate,
which will effectually kill all germs. Obtain a number of
two-ounce packets of corrosive sublimate, finely pulver-
ised; take three wooden (not metal) pails, and put two
gallons of hot water into each, and also add one packet
(two ounce) of sublimate to each pail. Gently stir the
water until the sublimate is dissolved, and leave the solu-
tion in the pails until n^xt morning. Then have ready
three large flour barrels, which have been soaked until they
will hold water; put into each barrel thirteen gallons of
cold water, and add to each one of the parts of the sub-
limate solution, which will make fifteen gallons in each
barrel. Leave this for three or four hours, stirring occa-
'1.^ . ■F-Q,,S<s
TuBEBS Infected with Potato Scab. (See p. 17-2
sionally so as to get the poison thoroughly mixed with the
water; meanwhile, wash the potatoes through two waters
in tubs, fill the barrels with these washed potatoes and
leave them in for an hour and a-half . Then turn the liquid
into some convenient vessel, and roll the potatoes out
on to the ground. The barrels may then be again filled
with fresh seed and the same water, which latter may be
used for three or four times. Of course, any number of
DISEASES OF THE POTATO. 175
barrels, in reason, may be used, but we mention three as
being a convenient number. Great care must be taken
from beginning to end while the poison solution or the
dressed potatoes are about. When the last of the solu-
tion is done with it should be emptied on to some bare
piece of ground or on to the road, but not on to the grass.
_^Leaf -Curl. — In some seasons and districts the leaves
of the potato curl and pucker, then turn yellow. This
condition is due to a fungus which first gains access to the
tubers, and thence to the vessels of the shoots and foliage.
Soon after attack the stems turn black and droop, a
whitish mould appearing on the dark patches. The tubers,
moreover, become stunted in growth, and although thej'
appear sound when harvested will eventualy rot after stor-
age. The particular fungus which causes the foregoing is
supposed to be a species of pleospora.
Wet Rot. — Tubers are sometimes found quite rotten
and putrefied, and having a decidely offensive smell.
The cause is a bacteria called Clostridium, which, says Pro-
fessor Marshall Ward, " consumes the cell walls, but
leaves the starchy grains intact." In the February issue of
the Board of Agriculture Journal it is stated that " Wet
Rot " is due to the action of the fungi of the potato
disease (Phytopthora infestans) and of Winter Rot (Nec-
tria solani). The spores of the former infect the young
tubers before lifting, and the mycelium of the same
fungus passes down the stems into the tubers. If the
season is wet and warm, the mycelium continues to grow,
causing brown spots to appear, and ending in the rotting
of the tuber. If the tubers are kept dry the mycelium
remains stationary till the following spring, then com-
mences growth, passes into the sprouts, and finally ap-
pears in the fruiting condition on the leaves. Then the
Winter Eot fungus produces softening and swelling of the
tubers, which are later attacked by bacteria, thus show-
ing " Wet Rot."
76 THE POTATO.
PiBiiEDiES. — From experiments made at the fann belong-
ing to the Agricultural Department of Leeds University
it has been found that dressing the stored tubers with
quick^not slaked — lime, at the rate of 71b. per cwt. has
prevented healthy tubers being attacked by the "Wet
Rot " disease. The lime quickly forms a thin shell over
the tuber, which is afterwards easily removed, leaving the
Potato Tuber I.-jfected with Spindle Disease. (See p. 177.)
skin clean and bright. It appears that when slaked lime
is used, it forms a sticky, pasty mass, and is removed
with difficulty from the tubers. The quicklime, on the
other hand, in the process of hypation, expands and forms
a thin, hard shell, which does not adhere to the tuber. By
treating the tubers with lime the tubers are said to sprout
quite a fortnight earlier than when no lime is used.
DISEASES OF THE POTATO. 177
Sea, Blight. — Potato crops grown nea,r the sea coast
are often injured by the salt spray blown by the winds on
the foliage. The saline matter causes the foliage to
shrivel and become brown. Unfortunately there is no
remedy for this.
Spindle Disease (Persola tonientosum). — A fungoid
disease, which apparently attacks the eyes of the tubers,
causing them to produce weak, spindly shoots. In many
cases the shoots are mere thread-like growths. Tubers
so attacked and planted frequently make no growth at
all, and remain perfectly sound in the soil for months
after planting. A correspondent informed us recently
that he planted in March, 1904, a patch of apparently
perfectly healthy tubers, which made no growth above
the surface of the soil. In the autumn he examined the
drills, and found the tubers sound. In the case of cut
tubers the cut surface goes brown in a few days, and dry
rot sets in. This disease is prevalent in France.
Remedies. — The only thing that can be done to guard
against failure of the crop from this disease is to box the
tubers early. This will enable the grower to determine
whether the tubers are prone to produce the thread-like
shoots characteristic of the disease. Tubers that do not
sprout healthily should be burnt forthwith.
178 THE POTATO.
CHAPTER XIX.
ON COOKING POTATOES.
It is one thing to grow the potato, but quite another to
cooli it properly, so tliat the tubers shall be in the best
possible condition for eating. It is said, with a certain
amount of truth, that few people know how to cook the
noble tuber properly. We are not referring here to the
many fancy ways of " dressing " potatoes, but to the sim-
ple process of boiling or baking them. It is seldom in
our public restaurants that one can obtain a really good
boiled potato, and as for those cooked by the average ser-
vant, they are often worse, if anything. We consider it
quite as important to instruct the readers of this Hand-
book how to cook a potato, as it is to teach them how to
grow it, and hence we shall describe what we consider to
be the best methods of cooking the tubers in this short
chapter.
The Wrong Way is to peel off the rind very thickly,
and throw the tubers into cold water to soak for an hour
or so before cooking. The thick peeling is wasteful, and
means the loss of a considerable amount of the best part
of the potato, while the long immersion in water after peel-
ing means a loss of soluble food matter, and a predisposi-
tion to waxiness instead of mealiness after cooking. Start-
ing the tubers to boil in cold water is another common
cause of waxiness, and the absence of that nice floury
condition everyone ajopreciates in a well-cooked tuber.
The Rigrht Way to cook the potato is to remove the
N 2
180 THE POTATO.
peel as thinly as possible, and to at once put the tubers
into boiling water in an iron saucepan, adding some salt at
the same time. Keep the water boiling steadily — not fast
or too slowly. When the tubers are rather more than half
done, pour off all but just enough water to cover the
bottom of the saucepan, stand the latter near the fire with
the lid slightly tilted to liberate the steam. Treated thus,
the tubers will cook like balls of fiour. The saucepan
should not be placed near enough to the fire to cause the
tubers to burn, but where there is a moderate heat to drive
off sujjerfiuous moisture and leave the tubers dry. If the
tubers cannot be eaten at once, cover them with a clean
white cloth : this will prevent them becoming sodden with
steam, and will preserve their flavour. Never place the
tubers into the dish till ready to be served.
Cooking- in their Skins.^Unquestionably the best
way, from a nutritive point of view, is to cook the tubers
in their skins or "jackets." In this way there is no
waste of food material, and, besides, the flavour of many
sorts is inffnitely better than when peeled. To cook pota-
toes thus, well wash them in cold water and cut out any
damaged eyes or fractures. Put in the saucepan with
sufficient water to not quite cover them. As soon as the
water boils add a little more cold water occasionally. A
little salt should be added with each supply of water.
When boiled through — in about an hour, more or less —
pour off the water, and hold the saucepan over the fire
till the moisture is evaporated. If they cannot be served
at once, place them in a thick white cloth in the oven till
required. Serve with the skins on.
Steamed Potatoes. — Some persons prefer their
potatoes cooked by steam. In this case a proper potato
steamer should be procured, and the tubers, either peeled,
or with their jackets on, put on the drainer with water
beneath. When so cooked, the water should be poured off
directly the tubers are cooked.
ON COOKING POTATOES. 181
Baked Potatoes are a delicious and nourishing vege-
table when properly cooked. Select large tubers of such
sorts as are known to be floury, wash their skins quite
clean, and then place them in a moderately heated oven.
Turn the tubers occasionally. They will take from one and
a-half to two hours to cook properly. Baked potatoes
should be served in napkins. A capital way of baking
potatoes is in a heap of smouldering ashes, the result of
a bonfire of weeds and rubbish. Potatoes also bake splen-
didly in fresh lime during the process of slaking. We have
often found otherwise bad cookers turn out well thus.
A French Method. — The eminent chef, Soyer, who,
in his day, was considered the leading expert in culinary
matters, says: "If boiled, the tubers may be put into
hoiling water, or into cold, and either boiled quickly or
slowly, as the variety determines. Choose them all about
the same size, with a smooth skin, and when they are
boiled and begin to crack, throw off the water imme-
diately, as it only damages the root. When dressed, let
them stand near the fire, with a cloth over them, and
serve them in the skins. Salt may be put in the water at
the beginning. A watery potato will require quick boil-
ing, and sometimes to be put into boiling water."
An Irish Method. — The same authority describes the
Irish method of cooking the potato : ' ' Put a gallon of water
with two ounces of salt in a large iron pot, boil for about
ten minutes till the skin is loose, then pour off the water,
put a dry cloth over the tubers, and place the pot by the
side of the fire for twenty minutes, then serve with their
skins on. The boiling is of a gradual nature."
*
182 THE POTATO.
CHAPTEE XX.
POTATOES AS POULTRY FOOD.
Although potatoes are, as generally used, not a good food
for the feathered sto.ck, as a supplementary vegetable diet
they may be turned to good account by the Intel' igtiir
poultry-keeper. The tuber, as everyone knows, is mainly
composed of starch and water. Over fifty per cent, of its
bulk consists of the latter, the remainder being starch,
with just a trace of flesh-forming material, and no fat or
oil. Starchy or carbonaceous foods, such as the potato,
are mainly of use in maintaining the heat of the body —
they are the fuel necessary for the combustion that is ever
going on in the processes of digestion and assimilation.
Then there is that other group of foods termed nitrogen-
ous, which exists in animal matter and albumen, and is
present in the seeds and leaves of plants; but it is only to
a very small extent contained in potatoes. This nitrogen-
ous matte is mainly of use in the building up of muscle,
bone, and tissue, and in repairing the waste that is ever
going on in the body. The white of an egg is nearly pure
albumen, or is nitrogenous in its composition. Now, a
proper diet should consist of the right proportions of nitro-
genous and carbonaceous foods, which has well been called
a " nutritive ratio," and that proportion should be, under
normal conditions, one part by weight of nitrogenous
matter to four parts of carbonaceous. Much depends, of
course, upon the condition of the birds, the weather or
temperature, method of housing, extent of liberty allowed,
and whether the birds are expected to produce eggs or to
lay on fat and flesh. If a carbonaceous diet is fed to ex-
potatoes;as poultry food. iss
cess, that is, if we fed laying hens solely upon potatoes
(perhaps adding some barley-meal or maize-meal), they
would become inordinately fat, producing few, if any, eggs.
The proportion of heat-producing material is too great.
Then agam, if the carbonaceous or fat-forming matter
were to be stinted or not allowed in sufficient quantity,
the heat of the body would be reduced, the reserves of
internal fat drawn upon, and the albuminous food would,
instead of going to produce eggs or flesh, be converted into
the other channel to supply th? deficiency. Thus, without
going further into the domain of chemistry, we may, with
the knowledge before us of the general uses of the two
broad classes of food constituents, discuss the practical
application of the science of feeding, most particularly
with regard to the potato.
How to Feed Potatoes — The poultry-keeper must
always bear in mind that the potato is a fattening, heat-
producing food, and it must be used as such in combina-
tion with llesh-forming materials. It is cheap, easy to
prepare, and generally liked by all classes of poultry. The
farmer whose laying hens are running at liberty in the
winter time may use a larger proportion of potatoes in
the morning meal than the poultry-keeper whose layers
are enclosed in sheds or small runs, but the proportion of
potato to the other ingredients of the mixture must always
be regulated in accordance with the weather, no matter
under what conditions the hens are kept. A cheap and
good diet for layers that are at liberty may be composed
of equal parts by weight of potatoes and bran. The for-
mer must be boiled, and the latter mashed into them
while hot, the mixture being given warm. If the bran is
good, it will supply the nitrogenous matter in which the
tubers are deficient, and the diet will be a well-balanced
one. If the weather is very cold, some linseed meal, or a
little animal fat, may be added.
Feeding; Confined Birds. — Inthecaseof layers that
184 THE POTATO.
are more or less coufinecl, the proportion of potato must
be reduced, and the quantity made up with sharps or
thirds. Pea or beau meal may also be added where the
potato is in excess. When malt culms or malt sprouts
can be obtained, the feeder need wish for nothing better
to add to the potatoes. They are highly nitrogenous, and,
what is equally important, have mjst valuable digestive
properties. The quantity of bran in the mixture given
above may be halved, and the weight made up with malt
sprouts. Or we naay take three pounds of the tubers and
one of malt sprouts, mashing the latter into the former
■ivhile boiling hot, and feeding when cool enough. Such
foods as Indian meal, barley meal, and rice meal, whicli
are deficient in nitrogenous matter, should, of course, not
be used with potatoes ; and when the tuber forms a large
part of the morning meal the evening grain should be one
that is deficient in starchy matter. Under such circum-
stances oats should be fed in preference to any other dry
food.
For Fattening: Poultry — When it is required to
fatten stock for table, potatoes are equally useful, and
can be used to a larger extent than with layers. The
usual mixture of ground oats and sour milk or buttermilk
may be supplemented with well-mashed tubers to the pro-
portion of one part of the vegetable to three of the other,
in the case of chickens that are confined. Ducks, geese,
and turkeys fatten well on a mixture of potato and mid-
dlings. Malt sprouts may be given also to aid digestibility
and supply flesh-forming material, and in the case of such
stock, wheat and oats may be fed as an evening meal.
Chickens fattened at liberty, or in small runs, may also
be supplied with the above mixture, but in cold weather
some fat should be added to the meal, as well as to that
of the larger stock. Many of our best home-fed Christ-
mas poultry have been largely fattened with potatoes, and
in Ireland the vegetable, used with buttermilk, is a
fa\ourite diet with turkey-feeders and chicken-raisers. In
o
I
186 THE POTATO.
the colder months of the yeav the j'Oung chickens may
have at least one feed a day of potato, malt sprouts, and
ground oats, mixed crumbly; and ducklings may be
allowed considerably more. In fact, the latter, when at
liberty, will do well for the first few weeks of their exis-
tence on potato and bran alone, so long as the mixture is
not too sticky.
Potato Water, Peeling's, etc. — The water in
which potatoes are boiled should never be used for live
stock; it is distinctly injurious to health, and when poured
off, it will be found that the potatoes contain ample mois-
ture within themselves for the proper mixing of tire meals
that are added to them. Householders who have small
flocks of hens should never boil the potato peelings along
with the other house scraps, but separately; and when
the proportion of the former is large, bran or malt sprouts
should always be used. In summer time fowls in con-
fined runs are better without potatoes, excepting in the
case of birds put up for fattening, and even then the pro-
portion used should be less than that advised for winter feed-
ing. The potato as a food for poultrj? is as little understood as
maize, and consequently its value has seldom been realised
by the general run of poultry-keepers. The latter must
understand that it is deficient in flesh and bone-making
material, and contains no fat or oil, but is rich in starch
(which is warmth-giving and fattening) and water. Its
deficiencies can, as we have pointed out, be supplied,
when the potato becomes a most economical and whole-
some food.
POTATOES FOR STOCK FEEDING. 187
CHAPTER XXI.
POTATOES FOR STOCK FEEDING.
The value of potatoes as stock food is not generally under-
stood any more than is the proper way to serve them. It
is not going too far to say that they are useful for all farm
animals, lest it be for sheep, and v?e are not sure but that,
prudently served, they might be very wholesome for ewes
in the lambing yard. Seeing the interest now evinced in
the cultivation of the tubers, it will be both instructive
and profitable to point out their value for different stock,
and how to serve them.
For Horse Feeding: — Potatoes exceed in value all
other roots, even the esteemed carrot, for horses doing
heavy and not too fast work. Take team horses, for in-
stance, or even dray or van horses. Cook the tubers and
serve them judiciously, so that there is not too much re-
laxation of the bowels as a result, and you may withhold
a portion of the corn. Walker Watson, M.R.C.V.S., in
revising Youatt's book, " The Horse," observes: " Pota-
toes have been given, and with advantage, in their raw
state, sliced with the chaff, but where it has been conve-
nient to boil or steam them, the benefit has been far more
evident. Purging has then rarely ensued. Some have
given boiled potatoes alone, and horses, instead of reject-
ing them, have soon preferred them even to the oat; but
it is better to mix them with the usual manger feed, in
the proportion of one pound of potatoes to two and a-half
pounds of the other ingredients. The use of the potato
must depend on its cheapness, and the facility for boiling
it. Half-a-dozen horses would soon repay the expense of
a steaming boiler in the saving of provender, without tak-
188 THE POTATO.
ing into the account their improved condition and capa-
bihty for work. Professor Lamb says that 151bs. of pota-
toes yield as much nourishment as four pounds and a-half
of oats. Von Thayer asserts that three bushels are equal
to 1121b. of hay; and Curwen, who tried potatoes exten-
sively in the feeding or horses, says that an acre goes as
far as four acres of hay. A horse fed on potatoes should
have his quantity of water materially curtailed." But
the tubers nowadays are far cheaper than when these emi-
nent authorities wrote, and the steaming apparatus is
cheaper too. Personally, we consider cooking almost
essential, for reasons we will show by and by.
For Cattle Feedingr — We find in South Lancashire,
in the great potato-growing districts, that potatoes are
used a good deal for dairy cows, particularly by farmers who
serve milk to the important towns there studded so thickly
about — at least that is so in plentiful seasons. And food
that is good enough for such stock undoubtedly contains
value for other bovines. Again, in the fen districts and in
Devon and Cornwall, we find that the crops are in certain
seasons largely used for milking cows, say when the aver-
age price on the farm does not run to above £2 per ton
for the heavier yields and coarser sorts.
How to Serve to Horses and Cattle. — The
tubers should be cleaned and steamed or boiled, and served
whole while warm with chaff to cows. A peck, or, say,
three gallons is a fair daily allowance for an average dairy
cow, but more is often served if the supply be not limited.
Lots of farmers feed the tubers raw, probably more than
cooked, but in such cases the starch therein is less digesti-
ble ; and this starch is not only the principal constituent
of the tuber, even to the tune of 60 per cent., but it is the
most nutritious. So you may serve raw, and the potato
will be no more useful than turnips ; but when steamed
or boiled it is more than doubly as nutritious as any other
root.
POTATOES FOR STOCK FEEDING. 189
For Calf Feeding^ — A few potatoes nicely cooked
and served in sweet hay chafi make excellent first solid
food for calves, i.e., for the youngsters after they are, say,
six weeks or two months old. The line to draw as regards
quantity is to stop at any signs of over-looseness in the
bowels. Potatoes are hardly good enough for fattening
cattle, which need something more concentrated and rich.
In fact, swedes answer better for oxen in stalls, as they
form a better accompaniment to rich cakes and meals.
But, as regards calves, why, by using potatoes judiciously
a good deal of milk may be saved, and all cakes. Crushed
oats really go best with the tubers; and by serving the
two, not only may the young herds be brought nicely on,
but that at a reasonable cost.
For Pig- Feeding:. — Here probably potatoes are more
profitably fed than to any other stock. Yet, thrown about
carelessljr in the yard, raw and uncleaned, the animals
appear little the better for them. Still, we have nearly
fattened porkers on the tubers, nicely cooked, and a milky
wash, and soon finished them off with the addition of a
little barley meal. Milk and potatoes go well together.
The former is astringent if served fresh, and the latter
sightly laxative; so they work together for good. Pro-
bably pork fattened on milk, potatoes, and barlej' meal is
of the highest quality made. There is no other root that
can be used for porking purposes, save potatoes, although
carrots, swedes, and mangold wurzel have been tried over
and over again, both uncooked and cooked. For sows
with farrows, for farrows as soon as they take solid food
or thereabouts, or for strong stores the tubers are most
wholesome, and are cheap enough in plentiful seasons.
Potato Liquor. — Singularly enough, the liquor pota-
toes are cooked in is not wholesome for any animals. It
not only upsets the bowels, but sometimes appears to act
in a pronouncedly poisonous manner. Again, if they are
not well washed before being boiled, the liquor contains
190 THE POTATO.
a quantity of grit, that has ere now caused purging to the
horse as well as to other animals. There are men worth
hstening to wlio have declared that it is the diseased roots,
or such as have been exposed to sun and turned green,
that cause the liquor to be so unwholesome ; it may be
so; at all events it is not wholesome, and it is folly indeed to
try serving it — all the more so because there is very little
nutriment in vegetable broth at the best. We believe it
has been conclusively proved that potatoes greened by
exposure above the ground are in a degree poisonous to
man. Wliy, then, should not they be bad for the lower
animals? They, however, make the best seed, and hence
need not be wasted.
Potato Paring-s. — Even potato parings are whole-
some and useful pig food. This, peasants' wives show us.
The farm labourer buys his small pig a little after it is
weaned, and his wife rears it on potato peelings, waste
potatoes, and other vegetables with broths, all cooked up
together. A little meal is, of course, thrown in, but half
a sack has to go a long way. And so, the youngster grows
and waxes strong, and eventually is fattened up with meal
into a substantial baconer. Without potato waste the cost
would be considerably greater, and the carcass probably
not so heavy, nor of so good a quality. Then, how cheap
potatoes on the farm are soinetimes. We have known
any amount offered at 35s. per ton. Then is the time to
get cheap pig food, and feed for other stock, too, for that
matter.
Steaming: v. Boiling: Potatoes.^Although we
have once or twice touched on cooking the tubers, a few
more words on the subject will not be out of place. The
better plan of cooking is to steam. The majority of pota-
toes brought to our own tables are spoiled for want of
cooking properly — in short, for want of steaming or bak-
ing. The latter plan is not practical for farm stock, but
steaming is. In steaming, the tubers are saved from being
POTATOES FOR STOCK FEEDING. 191
overcharged with water, of which they already contain too
much — over 70 per cent., as we have shown. In the
steamed article a maximum percentage of nutriment is
served with a minimum of water. Not that the vegetable
cannot be cooked in a nice mealy state by boiling ; but, we
repeat, it very often is not, and, seeing that such is the
case with the dish brought to our own tables, it is not
likely that Giles, with his hundred and one jobs to do,
is likely hardlj^ ever to boil the tubers well. In steaming
there is practically no trouble, very little attention being
needed, because the vegetable does not come into imme-
diate contact with the water. Thirdly, cooked potatoes
should be served promptly, and made to warm up a lot
of other feed, which is all thj better not taken into the
stomach in a chilly state on a cold winter's day. In fact,
by this warming up of other foods the value of the cooked
potato is considerably enhanced as stock food.
192 THE POTATO.
CHAPTER XXII.
POTATO IMPLEMENTS, ETC.
Besides the ordinary farm implements used in preparing
and cultivating the soil, there are many of special con-
struction employed in connection with the potato crop.
In fact, considering how backward we are in inventing
and adopting agricultural implements in general, potato-
growers are very well provided with labour- saving machin-
ery. The latest efforts of inventors have been towards the
production of a machine capable of raising, sorting, and
packing tiie potatoes in consecutive movements; but, so
far, these attempts have not resulted in practical success,
though some of the implements produced are extremely
ingenious. The chief obstacle to success is that no
machine can separate potatoes and stones or hard clods,
which are graded and packed with the tubers. Should
this objection ever be overcome, such an implement would
be of the greatest use where large areas of potatoes are
grown; and it might well go on circuit, as threshing and
reaping machines do now, raising crops at a piece-work-
rate of payment.
Potato Diggers,, — There are numbers of excellent
potato diggers on the market, which raise the crop without
grading or bagging it. Many of these do the work very
well indeed, and, of course, far more quickly than can be
done by hand digging. The tubers are more liable to be
buried; but this may be disregarded on account of the sav-
ing in labour and expense. The fault is, however, con-
stantly receiving the attention of implement makers, and
improvements are frequently effected ; so special attention
POTATO IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 193
should be given to this point when choosing a machine.
An implement that has been very successiul when ex-
hibited in operation at agricultural shows is the Cale-
donian potato raiser made by Messrs. A. Jack and Sons,
Maybole, N.B. This is simple and strong in construction,
and is of light dr-aught, two horses drawing it easily on
any soil. A curved share at the rear oi the machine passes
underneath and loosens the roots, which are immediately
caught up by revolviug forked tines. The potatoes are
deposited on the surface of the ground without being
spread much, so that they are handy for gathering. The
land is left almost level, and it is not easy for any tubers
to get buried. The share can be lowered to any required
depth, or raised so as to clear the ground. A somewhat
similar machine, is the patent rotary digger made by-
Messrs. Eansomes, Sims, and Jefferies, Orwell Works, Ips-
wich. This can be fitted with feathering or self-clearing
tines. These are well hooked to pass under and raise the
roots, and on coming out of the soil gradually turn down
and backwards, so that the potatoes are delivered on the
surface of the soil, and the tines freed from haulm. A
machine of different construction from the foregoing is the
potato digger, made by Messrs. A. Newlands and Son,
Linlithgow, N.B. This differs from the others in not hav-
ing a rotary action. The potatoes are raised by a flat
share, and pass over some steel tines on to the surface
of the ground, without being scattered widely. It is
claimed for this machine that the tubers are not bruised
or rubbed, and that therefore it is very suitable for raising
early crops of green potatoes.
Potato Ploughs — Where the acreage grown is not
sufficient to warrant the purchase of one of the potato
diggers described above, an ordinary potato plough is
often employed. The best known of these is that made
by Messrs. J. and F. Howard, Britannia Works, Bedford.
In appearance it is much like an ordinary plough, except
that two sets of steel tines are substituted for the breast,
o
194 THE POTATO.
the potatoes being raised by a share which passes under the
roots, and Ufted to the surface over these tines, which
parti}' free them from eartli. Such ploughs work very
well, except that they bury a good many tubers, and are
ratlier seriously impeded where the haulm is abundant
and green, as in early crops. However, with a pair of
horses three or four acres of potatoes can be raised in a
da}', and a boy walking beside the plough with a hooked
stick can do much to keep the tines free from haulm. One
advantage of the plough mentioned is that breasts and
shares can be substituted for the tines, when the imple-
ment is changed into a serviceable ridging plough.
A Potato Planter. — The Jervis potato planter, made
by IMessrs. Battle, JMaltby, and Bower, Victoria Chemical
Works, Lincoln, is a simple and useful contrivance, and
has the merit of being quite inexpensive. By its means
the tedious, stooping job of potato-planting is brought
breast higii ; and when proficiency has been gained in its
use, it is said that one man can plant at least two acres
in a day, dropping the tubers with great exactness. The
implement consists of three metal tubes, which are
brought together at the tops, b\it spread out fan- wise to-
wards the bottoms, which can be set at various distances
according to the space required between the seed tubers.
This contrivance is carried along the furrow, and the seed
dropped down the tubes by a sweeping motion of the hand,
and thus deposited at equal distances in the row. When
the operator has dropped thr^.e he takes a step forward,
the exact distance being shown by a measure at the bottom
of the tubes.
Saddle Harrows. — For cultivating the potato ridges
before the crop is above the ground it would be difficult to
equal the work done by the saddle harrows made by
Messrs. A. Jack and Sons, Maybole, N.B. These fit over
two of the ridges at one time, and are easily drawn by one
horse. Both the tops and the sides are thus cultivated,
POTATO IMPLEMENTS, ETC, 195
and weeds are kept down, or prevented from making an
appearance. The benefit to the crop from the stirring of
the soil is considerable.
Potato Sorters — The work of grading large bulks of
potatoes, as when a clamp is opened, is very heavy if done
in hand riddles, and to avoid this many clever contrivances
have been placed on the market. Probably the most
elaborate and perfect of these is the Wilson-Dobbie potato-
dressing machine, made by Mr. David Wilson, Eiccarton,
Linlithgow, N.B. In this the potatoes pass down a re-
volving sieve of hexagonal shape, which separates the
tubers into three sizes, as they pass along. The " seed "
and " ware " drop on to a carrier, running at a sufficiently
slow speed to allow time for picking out any diseased or
damaged tubelrs before thej' pass into baskets or bags
placed at one end of the machine. The motion is easily
kept up by hand, and the capacity of the sorter is such
that a man is constantly kept at work feeding it. Most of
the other sorters separate the tubers into three sizes \nto
flat riddles, which are kept in motion either by pushing to
and fro with the hand, or by means of a crank worked by
turning a wheel. Mr-. Henry Cooch, Commercial Street,
Northampton, sells a machine which may be had to work
by either of these methods. Messrs. Penney and Co.,.
Lincoln, also make a very similar machine, in which the
riddles are actuated by a crank.
Sorters for Small Crops. — Growers of small crops
would not, of course, think of investing in a large potato
sorter, but will find ordinary round hand-riddles of suitable
meshes quite efficient. When these are used, the work is
made much less arduous by the provision of a stand on
which to work the riddles. An excellent one is sold by
Messrs. A. Jack and Sons, Maybole, N.B. ; but anyone
at all handy at carpentering can soon construct such a
stand as is shown in the illustration. The construction
of the apparatus can be clearly seen. The dimensions-;
o 2
196
THE POTATO.
are three feet square and three feet high. Four stoul
posts, 3ft. high, are cut out of Sin. by 3in. quartering,
and are joined at top and bottom by pieces of Bin. by
lin. floor board. Strips are nailed across three of the
sides from corner to corner, to make the framework quite
A Potato Dresser.
rigid. Now two pieces of hard wood, such as oak, are
fitted across the top, as at A A. A frameworjc, B, B, C,
is next fitted in, sloping from the top of the back to the
bottom of the front of the framework. To the lower side
POTATO IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 197
of this a piece of ^in. wire netting is nailed, and the dresser
is complete. A riddle of l:J-in. or IJin. mesh is set across
the two pieces A A, the potatoes are put into this, and
the riddle is slid backwards and forwards till all small
tubers have fallen through on to the wire netting sieve.
Here the loose dirt falls through, and the chats roll down
the sieve on to the ground in front of the dresser. This
dresser is so simple that anyone can make it, and it also
has the advantage of being very cheap. It will be found
especially useful where the chats and seconds are picked
up together and clamped till winter.
Weigrhing Machines. — For weighing potatoes any
machine that will support a sack or barrel is suitable. A
simple and inexpensive one is the garden machine made
by Messrs. H. Pooley and Son, 89, Fleet Street, London;
and another almost identical with it is sold by Messrs. W.
and T. Avery, Soho Foundry, Birmingham. Both of these
firms make other machines which are still more suitable,
though more expensive, having supports against which
full sacks may rest whilst being weighed.
Potato Shovels. — The best shovel to use for pota-
toes when bagging or clamping is one specially made of
thin steel or iron bars, which hold the potatoes, but allow
any dirt to fall through. For shifting potatoes on a wooden
floor a wooden shovel, such as is used for grain, will be
found handy.
Potato Hoes. — For covering in the seed of small
crops, or when a ridging plough is not available ior this
work, the large potato hoes used in Lincolnshire are very
useful. These are about 16in. wide and 4|in. deep, and
have the handles fitted into straight necks about 2in. long.
If two men with these hoes work down opposite sides of
a row, one immediately behind the other, the work of
covering in the sets is rapidly and well done.
198 THE POTATO.
WORK PRICES.
Cutting tubers for seed, per cwt., 2d. and 3d.
Planting in jaloughed furrows by dibble, per acre, 6s.
(Labour: Man dibbling, woman dropping seed and boy
covering in, 1 acre per day.)
Hoeing, per acre, 3s. 6d. to 6s.
Earthing up, by hand, per acre, 6s.
Earthing up, by horse, by acre (2| acres per day), 4s. 6d.
Digging, by fork and sorting (early crops), per ton, 8s.
Ditto (late crops), 6s. 8d.
Lifting by machine digger (4 acres per daj', with 12
pickers), per day, 10s.
Cecil H. Hooper.
POTATO MEASURES.
Load. — A northern measure weighing 18 stones, or 2
cwt. 28 lb., used in the Sheffield and Manchester markets.
Half Load. — Ditto, weighing 9 stones, or 1 cwt. 14 lb.
Pot. — A Worcestershire measure weighing 80 lb,, used
in the Birmingham market.
Stose. — Weight, 14 lb.
Hundredweight. — Clean, 112 lb. ; uncleaned, 120 lb.
Ton.— 20 cwt. ; 2,240 lb. ; 49 bushels.
Barrel.— Weight 200 lb.
Sack (London).— 168 lb.
Strike (Nottingham measure). — 84 lb.
Bag.— 112 lb.
YIELD PER ACRE.
The average yield per statute acre is 6 to 12 tons. Some
varieties, like Evergood, have yielded over 18 tons; Nor-
thern Stars, 13 to 20 tons ; Recorder, 12 to 13 tons ; Up-to-
Date, 22 tons, and Dalmeny Beauty, 24 tons, per acre.
MISCELLANEOUS DATA.
A peck of potatoes weighs 20 lb.
Potato seeds take 16 to 24 days to germinate.
Number of seeds in a potato berry, 200 to 300.
Early potatoes take 10 to 12 weeks from date of plant-
ing to arrive at maturity; late crops 18 to 24 w'eeks.
POTATO IMPLEMENTS, ETC. 1^9
Heaviest yield from 1 lb. of Eldorado potatoes ^ as
43 cwt.
In 1875 it is recorded that a Kentish gardener reared
6471b. of tubers from lib. of cut tubers of the variety
Eureka.
Potatoes may be propagated by grafting a portion of
a tuber of one variety on to that of another. All the
eyes must be removed from the tuber which is to be used
as the stock. Out of this tuber cut a wedge-shaped slice,
then cut a piece of exactly the same size, furnished with
one good shoot an inch or so long, and fit this into the
wedge-like cleft. See that the rinds fit exactly, and then
bind firmly with bass matting and plant in the soil at
once. If a coloured tuber be grafted on a white one, the
yield will include both coloured and white, as well as mot-
tled tubers. The old variety Yorkshire Hero was said to
be reared in this way.
A tomato shoot may be grafted on the shoot of a
potato, and vice versa. In the latter case tubers will he
borne in the axils of the leaves in the air, and not in the
soil as usual.
SOIL CULTFV^ATION.
How Caltivat d.
UObt
p r
rorl
Cost per
acie.
Time Required.
S.
d.
£ s. d.
Light
Dug 1 spit deep
2
1 6 8
14 days per acre
Uitto
TrenohiDg 2 spits deep
ID
6 13 4
28 days
Ditto
Bastard Trenching ...
6
4
21 daj-s ,,
Ditto
Ploughing
12
1 day
Heavy
Dug 1 spit deep
3
2 18 days
Ditto
Trenching 2 spits deep
I
8 30 days
Ditto
Bastard Trenching ...
8
5 6 8 21 days
Ditto ...
Ploughing
16 tllidavs
Ordinary ...
riteam Ploughing
15
8 a:res per day
Ditto
Si earn Cultivating ..
12
6 to 10 acres
Ditto
Steam Digging
12
10 acres per day
Ditto
Harrowing
10
Ditto
Ditto
Caltivating
3
3 to 5 acres per day
Ditto
RoUing
9
8 to 10 acres per day
200
THE POTATO.
WEIGHT OF POTATO CROPS.
TO ASOERT.ilN, BY WEIGHIN'O TWENTY, THE WEIGHT FEE .4CRE
OF POTATOES : —
Inches
Number of
1,400 lbs.
2 800 lbs.
4,200 lbs.
5,600 lbs.
between
Plants
per
per
per
per
Plants.
per axrve.
acre.
acre.
acre.
acre.
Ibe.
lbs.
lbs.
lbs.
6
174,240
0-16D
0-320
0-4-2
0-642
123,013
0-218
O-iil
0-65)
0-874
8
98,010
0-255
0-571
0-856
1-142
9
77,440
0-361
3.723
1-(j48
1-446
10
62,726
0.419
0-892
1-38S
1-785
11
51,840
0540
1-080
1-620
2-160
12
43,. 5 60
642
1-285
1-927
2-571
13
36,116
0-754
1-503
2262
3017
U
32.003
0-874
1-749
2 624
3-449
1.5
27,878
1-005
2-UlO
3-015
4-021
16
24,502
1-142
2 285
3-427
4-571
17
21,704
1-290
2-580
3.870
5'ieo
18
19,360
1-445
2-891
4-386
5-782
19
17,375
1-611
3-22?
4-831
6 446
20
12,481
1-785
3-571
5-356
7-142
Example. — ^If the produce of 20 Potato stools, or of 20 Turnips,
growing 12 inches apart from each other, weigh 0-642 of a lb., then the
produce per acre is 1,400 lbs. ; if 1-285, then 2,800 lbs per acre ; and
so on. The second column shows the number of plants per acre ; at 12
inches distant each way, the nun^ber is 43, .560
DRAINAGE.
Soil.
Depth o(
Drain.
1
Distance
apart of
Drains.
Nnmber of
Drain pipes
per acre.
Total Cost
per acre.
Chy, stiff
..1 2ft. 6in.
15 ft.
2,905
£8 6
,, friable
..i 2ft. 6in.
18 ft.
2,420
6 7 8
,, soft
.. 2 ft. 9 in.
21 ft.
2,076
5 4 3
,, loamy
..' 3ft.
21 ft.
1,980
5 9 5
Loam and Gravel
..; 3ft. 3 in.
27 ft.
1,613
5 5 64
,, light
..' 3ft. 6in.
33 ft.
l,3.'(l
4 16 5
,, sandv
..| 3ft. 9 in.
40 ft.
1,117
3 3 2
S-ind and b'ravel
..1 4ft.
50 ft.
sso
3 12 10
,, coarse gravelly
..: 4 ft. 6 in.
60 ft.
726
3 5 9
POTATO MONSTROSITIES.
201
ANALYSIS
OF
POTATOES (ASH
Carbonic acid
.. 13.4
Sulphuric acid
7.1
Phosphoric acid
.. 11.3
Chlorine
'2.7
Magnesia
5.4
Lime
1.8
Potash
.. r.1.5
Soda
trace.
Silica
.. 5.6
Oxide of iron and a
luminia
.5
Carbon, water and loss
100.0
CHAPTER, XXIII.
POTATO MONSTROSITIES.
The tubers of the potato vary a great deal in their shape,
no two being exactly alike. This tendency to variation
in the case of the potato occasionally lends itself to the
production of odd shapes, and to the exhibition of great
powers of mimicry. Thus, as in the few examples of
tubers illustrated, one tuber mimics a dog, another a
cottage loaf of bre'ad, and another an ape or depraved
human being. In the course of our long practical and
editorial experience, we have seen a wonderful diversity of
forms which potato tubers have assumed, and had we
only photographed them all, thej' would have made a
most interesting collection.
202
THE POTATO.
The Cottag-e Loaf Tuber — This illustration shows
a perfect counterfeit presentment of a cottage loaf.
Either the lai-ger or lower portion supertuberated, and
thus produced a second smaller tuber on its upper
The Cottage Loap Tuber.
surface; or the two tubers nrust haA'e been brought into
such close contact with each other in an earher period
of their growth as to unite by fission.
The Dossie Tuber — Here we have a fairly good
representation of a small dog. It has at least two legs,
a truncated tail, and a head replete with ears and eyes.
It is the best example of a doggie tuber we have seen.
This monstrosity doubtless owes its origin to some check
to growth, W'hich prevented the tuber making its normal
growth; or to wet weather following a dry period, thus
causing supertuberating to supervene. It is a very in-
teresting example of mimicry.
POTATO MONSTROSITIES.
■20.5
The Doggie Tuber.
A Marine Animal Mimic — This, again, is a very
peculiar form of tuber. It appears to be furnished wilh
fins hke those of a seal, to have a kind of rostrum or bealc,
and a pair of feelers or horns on its head. It is sugges-
tive of some denizen of the ocean. Eeally, it is an in-
Marine Animal Mimic.
stance of a tuber anxious to strike out a new line for
itself by forming a modified form of stem, furnished with
leaf scales — the projecting parts — and buds in their axils.
Had this tuber remained in the soil it would, no doubt,
have borne tubers like an ordinary potato stem.
'J04
THE POTATO.
The Ape-like Tuber — In this example we have a
monstrous hkencss of an ape or depraved human creature.
It is true the head has been shghtly and ingeniously mani-
pulated by the original discoverer of the tuber, a facetious
"The Monarch of the Mould "
(Grown by S. Johnson, Ovoca Vale, Ireland, Photo by J. H. Russgll.)
Irishman, who favoured us ^^■ith the photograph. Ajiart
from this, there are the two legs, a short body, minus
arms, and a good imitation of a head. It will be observed
that the back of the head is furnished with a dual kind cf
pigtail, in tlie shape of the r.jots which oi'iginaily con-
nected the tuber witli the plant. The sender of the photo
POTATO MONSTROSITIES.
•205
assured us that there were distinct traces of the L-srs,
eyes, nose and mouth, before he artificially intensified
these organs by the use of the knife.
Tuber-in-Tuber. — Tubers are occasionalh' met with
where one is growing inside the other. The larger tuber
is the original " set," which was planted in the ground,
^
i^
1^'
f5^
«^l
h^
—■?
k
>
i
^
ai
n
■1
X^^^^M^^^^I
!
1
)jL
*j
11
1
l»
t2SS, '^^d^^^k
1
1
P
f
m
mi$
w^
Tdb£k-IiN-Tuber Freak.
and by some means an underground stem penetrated it
and in due course gave birth to a young tuber, which
developed within its parent.
Tuber Perforated by Twitch. — This is a very
interesting example of the power of roots to force their
way through objects which resist their onward progress.
Kerner, in his " Natural History of Plants," affirms that
l2')6
THE POTATO.
Ihe roots of the Twitch or Couch grass will bore their way
through the roots of trees, and especially so through the
tubers of the potato. He further says that the roots will
force their way through discs of tinfoil. The roots of
the Couch grass are furnished at their tips with hard
■ . ^ *^N
f.z ^:2SS
TUEEK PlEKCED EY CoUCH.
scales, hence their power of penetration. The illustration
shows a tuber pierced through with a Couch root.
These examples of mimicry, etc., in the potato are
given in this work to show that there is, apart from the
food value and cultural details, much also of general in-
terest connected with the " Monarch of the Mould."
LIST OF VARIETIES. 207
CHAPTER XXIV.
LIST OF VARIETIES.
Following is a list, witli brief descriptions of the varieties
of potatoes grown at the present day, and described in the
various trade catalogues. We do not profess to saj- that
the list includes every variety known. There ;ire many
old varieties, and possibly a fev/ of the ne\\er ones, that
are but little known and grown. tSome of them are
rapidly passing out of cultivation, and will soon be super-
seded by newer and improved sorts. Then, again, there
are many new sorts recently introduced that will not pi-ove
themselves worthy of extended cultivation, and these will
naturally pass out of notice. Those we have enumerated
and described are varieties that possess more or less merit.
We have classified the varieties into three divisions,
namely, First Earlies, Second Earlies, and J\Iain Crop or
Late. There are 64 varieties belonging to the first divi-
sion, t)4 the second, and 141 the third, or "269 in all.
FIRST EARLY POTATOES.
Advancer (Carter's). — White kidney. Heavy cropper; cooks
vveU ; g"ood garden potato.
A.I. (Sutton's). — White round. Good for frame or border
culture.
Alpha. — White round. Heavy cropper; good cooker; adapted
for garden culture.
Beauty of Hebron. — White kidney. Handsome tubers ; good
cropper; cooks well; suitable for field or garden culture;
flowers, white ; an American variety.
BeaUTV of Hebron. — Coloured kidney. Similar to the white
variety, except in colour of skin, which is pink tinted ; an
American potato.
208 THE POTATO.
British Premier. — White round. Heavy cropper ; robust
grower; cooks well; good for early market crop; flowers,
white.
Canon', The. — White kidney. Good cropper and cooker ; a
garden potato,
Chiswick Favourite. — White round. An enormous cropper ;
resists disease ; cooks splendidly ; skm rough.
Colonist (Webbs'). — White kidney. Tubers, smooth, with a
shallow eye ; very heavy cropper ; cooks white and mealy ;
disease resisting ; good garden and exhibition potato.
Conquest (Kindlay's). — White round. Tubers, with a netted
skin; enormous cropper; good early market variety.
Crimson Beauty. — Coloured round. Free cropper, good
cooker, and disease resister. Tubers, crimson tinted ;
flowerSj heliotrope tipped with white ; good for exhibition.
Cropper (Dennis'). — White round. Tubers, large and oblong ;
flesh, white ; heavy cropper ; good field potato.
Dalmenv Early. — White round. Heavy cropper ; very hardy ;
cooks well ; suitable for field or garden culture.
Denbigh Castle. — White kidney. Good cropper and cooker ;
adapted for forcing in pots, etc.
Duke of Albany. — White kidney. Heavy cropping, early
maturing and short-haulmed variety ; a good garden
potato.
Duke of York. — White kidney. Heavy cropper; first-rate
cooker ; excell"nt for forcing or earliest crop outdoors ;
fine for exhibition ; tubers keep well ; flowers, white ; one
of the best.
Earl of Chester —White round. Tubers, flattish round;
heavy cropper and disease resister; splendid cooker; good
for very early work.
Early Bird (Cannell). — White round. Haulm, medium ; very
heavy cropper ; cooks very mealy ; comes to maturitv very
early.
Early Favourite (Carter's).— White oval. Tubers, oval-
shaped ; flesh white ; good cropper ; does well on light
and medium soils.
Early Puritan. — White round. An immense cropper; cooks
firm and floury; ripens early; flowers, white; fine for
earliest crop ; of American origin.
Early Queen (Daniel's).— Coloured kidnev. Tubers, white
suffused with pink ; eyes, few and shallow ; good cropper
and splendid cooker.
Early White Be.auty.— White round. Good cropper; an ex-
hibition variety.
Eightvfold (Emdlay's). — Coloured round. ■\'erv heavy
cropper; splendid cooker; tubers handsome in shape and
purple tinted ; good alike for general culture or exhibi-
tion ; flowers, pale blue, tipped with white.
LIST OF VARIETIES. 2'J9
English Beauty (Veitch's). — White round. Heavy cropper
and good cooker; adapted for forcing or early outdoor
crops.
Ensign Baglev. — White kidney. Tubers, very clean and
white; heavy cropper and good cooker; of American
origin.
EUREK.'V. — White round. Heavy cropper; dwarf haulm; tubers,
handsome ; excellent cooker ; flowers, blush, tipped with
white ; of American origin.
Excelsior. — White round. Tubers, oval-shaped ; free cropper ;
first-class cooker; a good variety for garden culture or
market purposes.
Express (Webbs'). — White oval. Crops hea\'ily, cooks and
keeps well ; a seedling from Beauty of Hebron.
Extra Early (Burpee's). — White round. Tubers, oblong,
3 to 4 inches long ; fiesh white ; good cropper ; splendid
cooker ; of American origin.
First Crop. — Coloured round. Tubers, oval or pebble-shaped
with a pale blue tinted skin ; an enormous cropper; cooks
very floury.
FoiTNDLING (Davie's). — White round. Hea\ y cropper; cooks
well; comes in just after Sharpe's \'ictor.
Garden King. — White kidney. Tubers, with slightly netted
skin; good cropper and disease resister ; cooks well.
Garton. — White round. Fair cropper; good cooker; comes
in ver\' early.
Gem (Kerr's). — White kidney. Good cropper ; excellent cooker ;
haulm, dwarf; ripens early.
Gem, The. — White kidney. Heavy cropper, good cooker and
keeper ; good garden or field potato.
Gloucestershire Kidney. — White kidney. A good early local
sort grown in the Midlands.
Gold Reef (Findlay's). — White kidney; heavy cropper; first-
rate cooker ; vigorous habit.
H.ARDINGER (Sutton's). — White round. Heavy cropper; tubers,
handsome and elongated in shape, with shallow eyes ; first-
rate cooker ; ripens early ; good for earliest crop and for
exhibition ; flowers, white.
John Austin. — White kidney. Tubers, fairly large ; heavy
cropper ; moderate grower ; good cooker, and very early
variety. The result of a cross between Ringleader and
Earlv Puritan.
Klondyke (Findlay's), — White kidney. An enormous cropper,
comes quickly to maturity, and is a good cooker; good
for earliest crop.
Leader (Massey's). — White kidney. Tubers, with finely netted
skin and shallow eyes ; flesh, white ; haulm vigorous ;
flowers, white; heavy cropper and good cooker.
Maxim. — White kidnev. Good cropper; a cross between Duke
of York and Myatt's Ash Leaf.
r
210 THE POTATO.
May Beauty (Fidler's). — White kidney. A cross between Early
Eclipse and Ashleaf ; good cropper and cooker, a cross
between the old Ashleaf and Fidler's Early Eclipse.
May Queen (Sutton's). — White kidney. Haulm, dwarf; flesh,
white ; a deliciously-flavoured potato to cook as dug from
the soil ; fine for forcing and early outdoor culture.
Midlothian Early. — White kidney. A tremendous cropper
and strong grower ; good cooker.
r\lYATT's Ashleaf. — White kidney. Heavy cropper ; good
cooker ; robust haulm ; resists disease ; flowers, pale laven-
der, tipped with white ; a good old variety.
Ninetyfold (Sutton's). — White kidney. Heavy cropper;
tubers very large ; excellent cooker ; good for field or
garden culture ; flowers, white.
NOROTON Beauty. — Coloured round. Tubers white with pink
eyes. Good cropper, keeps and cooks well ; of American
origin.
Pearl (Johnson's). — White kidney. Heavy cropper and good
cooker ; flesh, white ; new.
Pride of Tonbridge. — White kidney. Tubers, handsome, of
medium size ; skin, russety ; eyes full ; heavy cropper and
disease resister ; flowers, white.
Raj.-vh, The. — White kidney. Tubers, large, flat, with shallow
eyes; flesh, yellowish; skin, smooth; matures very
quickly ; good cropper and cooker ; a variety long grown
in Lincolnshire, but only recently introduced.
Recorder. — W'hite kidney. Tubers, handsomely formed and
flat ; flesh, white ; skin, russety ; crops freely ; cooks well ;
is similar in growth, etc., to Snowdrop; a good fleld or
garden potato.
Red Ashleaf (Fidler's). — Coloured kidney. Tubers, with a
pretty red skin ; flesh, white ; heavy cropper ; first-rate
cooker.
Ringleader (Sutton's). — White kidney. Haulm, moderate;
tubers of splendid flavour when cooked as lifted ; good for
frame or border culture.
Rivers' Royal Ashleaf.— White kidney. A good old earlv
variety.
Rouge Royal. — Coloured round. Free cropper ; skin, pale
red ; flesh, pure white ; cooks well ; flowers, white.
Royalty (Carter's).— White round. Tubers, oval-shaped,
crops and cooks well.
Sharpe'S Victor.— White kidney. Tubers, flat and oval-
shaped; flesh, yellow; free cropper; cooks w^ell ; good for
early forcing or early crop outdoors ; flowers, lavender,
tipped with white.
Sharpe'S Victor.— White kidney. A white-fleshed variety and
a heavier cropper than the yellow fleshed one' just
described.
LIST OF VARIETIES. 211
Sir John Llewelyn. — White kidney. Tubers, large and
handsome in shape ; heavy cropper and disease resister ;
excellent cooker ; grand variety for early market trade ;
g-ood exhibition variety; flowers, white ; one of the best.
Snowdrop. — White kidnev. Tubers of handsome shape ; eyes,
shallow; flesh, pure white; splendid cooker; free cropper;
flowers, white ; good exhibition variety.
Southern Star.— White kidney. Large cropper; quality
good. , , ■ ,
Topper. — White kidnev. Tubers, with smooth skm and
shallow eyes ; heavy cropper and disease resister ; said to
do well on light soils. „ ■ ■,
White Stornaway (Davie's).— White kidney. Tubers, liattish
and large ; good cropper ; very hardy.
SECOND EARLY POTATOES.
Adirondack.— Coloured round. Tubers, large and hand-
somely shaped ; eyes, pmk ; good cropper ; adapted tor ex-
hibition ; flowers, purple, tipped with white.
Beauty of Bute.— WTite round. Free cropper ; good cooker ;
grown largely in Ireland. .
Britannia.— White round. Tubers, flattish round; eyes,
shallow ; heavv cropper and disease resister ; a popular
varietv in the North ; an exhibition variety ; flowers, white.
British Queen.— White kidnev. Heavy cropper; splendid
cooker and high flavoured variety; disease resister; excel-
lent for field or garden cultivation; flowers, white.
British Qltlen No. 2.— White oval. Is similar to British
Queen, except that it matures earlier; splendid cooker and
cropper; disease resister. ,,, , t Uo.-.
Centenary (Sutton's).- White oval or pebble-shape. Tubers,
handsome in shape, with white flesh; crops heavily; cooks
excellentlv ; good exhibition potato.
Challenge (Fmdlav's). —White kidney. Free cropper; very
hardv ; cooks well ; good for fleld or garden culture
Ch.^MPION of H.A.MPSHIRE ( Toogood's) .—Tubers with white
skin and shallow eyes ; crops freely; resists disease; cooks
floury. , , 1
rrriRETTE— White oval. Tubers, oval-shaped; an immense
^cropper ; resists disease ; cooks splendidly ; good for gar-
den or f^eld culture ; a favourite with market growers.
CLIMAX -White round. A variety not much grown now-a-
daVs but Still included in some lists.
COSMOPOLITAN (Carter's).-White oval-round. Heavy cropper ;
crood cooker; excellent garden potato ., ,
HALMENY RADIU-M.-White oval. Tubers, large with a beauti-
^^fuUv netted skm; flesh, white; splendid cooker; very
heavy cropper; good for field culture; flowers, whUe^
212 THE POTATO.
Daniels, The. — White kidney-. Good cropper and cooker ; a
fine potato for field culture.
Diamond Reef (Findlay's). — White kidney. Big cropper; an
excellent cooker ; said to be a promising variety.
Dr. Gillespie (Kerr's).— White round. Dwarf habit; big
cropper.
Duchess of BuCCLEUCH. — White round. Tubers, flattened or
elongated ; an immense cropper ; cooks splendidly ; disease
resister ; flowers, mauve ; a promising variety.
Duchess of Cornwall.— White round. Tubers, large, hand-
some in shape and somewhat flattened ; haulm, dwarf and
robust ; a first-rate cooker ; an enormous cropper ; one of
the best varieties for field or garden culture, also for exhi-
bition ; resists disease ; flowers, mauve.
Duchess of Norfolk (Daniels'). — White round or pebble-
shape. Tubers, with slightly rough or netted skin,
shallow eyes, and white flesh ; crops heavily and cooks
well ; resists disease ; flowers, lavender and white.
Duke of Rothesay. — White kidney. Tubers, large with
netted skin and shallow eyes ; heavy cropper ; excellent
cooker ; white flesh ; good field or garden variety ; flowers,
creamy white.
Early Champion.— White round. Tubers with shallow eyes
and netted skin ; a strong- grow-er and heavv cropper.
Early Eclipse (Fidler's).— A handsome tubered variety and
an excellent cooker.
Early Regent (Sutton's).— White oval-round. Flesh, white,
firm and floury when cooked; very productive; good
market potato.
Early Rose. — Coloured kidney. Tubers, pink, tinged with
salmon; flesh, white; very free cropper; good for light
soils ; cooks well; of American origin.
Epicure (Sutton's).— White oval. Good cropper and cooker;
largely grown on farms, especiallv in the North.
GENER.AL French.— White round. Tubers, pebble-shaped,
with shallow eyes ; heavy cropper.
General Gatacre.— White round. Tubers, of handsome
shape; good cropper and splendid cooker.
General Kitchener (Davie's).— White oval. Tubers, oval-
shaped ; an immense cropper ; robust grower.
Gold Coin. — Synonymous with Vermont Gold Coin, which
see.
Great Central— White round. Tubers, large and handsome
m form ; heavy cropper , cooks well ; flowers, white
Herd Laddie.— Coloured round. Tubers, handsome in form
with netted skin ; good cropper ; cooks well ; good exhibi-
tion variety.
LIST OF VARIETIES. 213
Ideal (Sutton's).— White kidney. Tubers, with smooth skin,
shallow eyes and white flesh; immense cropper; cooks
well ; g-ood for exhibition.
International Kidney.— White kidney. Tubers assume a
violet tint after exposure to the light. An exhibition
potato of g-ood quality.
JEANNIE Deans.— White round. Tubers, pebble-shaped ; skm,
netted and white ; cooks floury ; yields abundantly ; one
of the best.
Knockout (Sharpe's). — White round. A very heavy cropper;
g-reat disease resister, and good cooker.
Lapstone. — White kidney. Tubers, variable from kidney to
pebble and round ; skm, smooth and straw coloured ; eyes,
small and few ; flesh, full straw ; flowers, white ; great
cropper ; good cooker ; an old variety.
Lord BeacONSFIELD. — Coloured round. Tubers, handsome,
with mottled skin; an exhibition variety; flowers, lavender,
with white tips.
Lord Methuen. — White round. Heavy cropper and disease
resister ; cooks well.
Lord Rosebery. — Coloured round. Tubers, red tinted; ex-
hibition variety ; flowers, purple, tipped with white.
Lord Salisbury. — White round. Strong grower ; fair
cropper ; good coolcer.
Macpherson. — White round. Tubers, with a finely netted
skin ; a large cropper and a good cooker.
Maid of Coil. — White round. Tubers, flattish round and
handsomely shaped ; free cropper and disease resister ;
cooks well ; good exhibition variety.
Market Favourite. — White round. Tubers, medium sized
and even ; heavy cropper ; good market variety ; cooks
well ; flowers, white.
Mr. Breese. — Coloured kidney. Tubers, rose coloured and
handsomely shaped; heavy cropper; good exhibition
variety ; flowers, creamy white.
New Guardian (Webbs'). — W'hite kidney. Heavy cropper;
good cooker and long-keeping variety; resists disease.
Nonsuch (Sutton's). — White round. Heavy cropper and ex-
cellent cooker; largely grown in the North.
Pride of Tonbridge. — White round. Tubers, pebble-shaped ;
very productive and an excellent cooker ; good field potato.
Queen Alexandra (Kerr's). — White round. Tubers, pebble-
shaped, with a netted skin ; crops heavily, and cooks splen-
didly, like a ball of flour.
Reading Russet (Sutton's).— White flattish round. Tubers
with a russety skin and lemon-white flesh ; splendid
cropper and cooker ; keeps well for nearly a year.
Red Regent. — Coloured round. Tubers, medium sized,
wrinkled ; skin, red ; eyes, shallow ; flowers, white ; heavy
cropper; good cooker; formerly a popular field potato.
214 THE POTATO.
Royal Kidney. — White kidney. Heavy cropper ; cooks firm
and dry; first-rate flavour; resists disease; good for field
or garden culture.
Ruby Queen (Findlay's).— Coloured round. Tubers, large,
flattish round and purple coloured ; very heavy cropper ;
first-rate cooker; good for garden or field culture.
Seedling (Sutton's). — White pebble-shape. Tubers, large,
with shallow eyes and a russety skin ; cooks well and crops
freely.
Sir Walter Raleigh. — White round. Splendid cropper;
tubers uniform in size ; flesh, white and finely grained ;
excellent cooker ; a good variety for market culture ;
flowers, lavender, tipped with white ; of American origin.
Snowflake. — White kidney. Tubers, handsomely shaped ;
good cropper ; cooks well ; flowers, creamy white ; an old
exhibition variety.
Snowflower (Keeble's). — W'hite kidney. A prodigious
cropper and thorough disease resister ; first-class cooker.
Southampton Wonder. — White round. Tubers, handsomely
shaped ; skin, netted ; eyes, shallow ; resists disease ; crops
and cooks well.
Supreme (Sutton's). — W'hite pebble-shape. Tubers, smooth,
with shallow eyes ; a splendid cooker and heavy cropper ;
a really good variety.
Surprise (Carter's). — White oval. Good cropper; a cross
between Magnum Bonum and Myatt's Ashleaf.
■Vermont Gold Coin. — White kidney. Heavy cropper ; excel-
lent cooker ; disease resister ; adapted for field and garden
culture ; a good market variety ; flowers, white ; of Ameri-
can origin.
WE.STMERE Forester.— White kidney. Tubers, white fleshed ;
crops heavily ; resists disease ; good cooker.
\\'hite Elephant.— Coloured kidney. Tubers, large ; heavy
cropper; good cooker; flowers, white.
WlND,S0R Castle (Sutton's).— White oval or pebble-shape.
"Very heavy cropper and excellent cooker; resists disease
well ; good for field or garden culture, also for exhibition ;
flowers, pale lavender.
Wordsley 'Pride (Webbs').— White kidney. Tubers, large,
W'hite, and smooth, with few eyes ; very heavy cropper ;
cooks splendidly.
XL All (H. J. Jones). — White oval. Tubers, medium sized;
shallow eyes ; growth moderate ; heavy cropper ; disease
resister; a cross between British Queen and Sutton's
Abundance.
Yeoman. — Coloured round. Tubers, flattish round and
smooth ; eyes, shallow and tinged with pink ; first-rate
cooker ; free cropper ; flowers, purple.
LIST OF VARIETIES. 215
MAIN CROP AND LATE POTATOES.
Abundance (Sutton's).— White round. Tubers, flattish round
or pebble-shaped ; an immense cropper; cooks splendidly ;
good variety for field and garden culture, also for exhibi-
tion ; disease resisting ; flowers, white.
Bee Hive. — White round. Heavy cropper ; said to be a promis-
ing variety for extensive field culture.
Boston Bountiful.— White round. Free cropper ; cooks
white and floury ; haulm robust ; resists disease.
Bountiful.— White round. Tubers of handsome shape, with
a fine white skin ; haulm strong ; good cropper ; splendid
cooker ; good for field or garden culture and exhibition ;
flowers, white.
British Lion (Davie's).— White round. Tubers, roundish
oblong, with a rough skin ; eyes, few and shallow ; heavy
cropper ; cooks very floury ; a fine field or garden potato.
Bruce, The. — White oval, or kidney. Good cropping field
potato ; grown chiefly in the North.
Cambridge Russet. — White round. Tubers with skin beauti-
fully netted ; heavy cropper ; disease resisting ; cooks well ;
of American origin.
Carltonian (Cutbush). — White round. Great cropper and
disease resister; good field and garden variety.
Carman. — White round. Heavy cropper; cooks splendidly;
good sort for small gardens.
Champion II, — White round. Good cropper; haulm, medium;
cooks well ; flowers, white.
Charles Fidler. — White round. Tubers large and elongated ;
heavy cropper; first-rate cooker ; ^good field or garden
potato.
Chieftain (Webbs'). — White oval. A heavy cropper, good
cooker and disease resister ; keeps well ; fine for field or
garden culture.
Colonist (Fmdlay's). — Coloured round. Tubers, pink
coloured ; enormous cropper ; first-rate cooker ; resists
disease ; good for field culture.
Commonwealth. — White round. Tubers, oval to kidney
shape ; good cropper and cooker.
Conquering Hero (Kerr's). — White round. Very free crop-
ping and good cooking variety.
Cramond Blossom. — White round. Tubers, inclined to
kidnej' shape ; heavy cropper ; excellent cooker ; keeps
well; good field or garden potato; flowers, white.
Crofter, The. — White round. Tubers, oval, with netted
skin; very heavy cropper; splendid cooker; resists dis-
ease ; good for field or garden culture ; flowers, white.
Dalmeny Beauty. — White kidney. Tubers with shallow eyes
and netted skin ; an enormous cropper ; good keeper and
disease resister; cooks well; a good field potato.
216 THE POTATO.
Dalmenv Hero. — White round. Tubers, oblong- oval, with
shallow eyes and netted skin ; heavy cropper ; robust
grower; disease resisting; cooks well; good field potato.
Dalmenv Kidney. — White kidney. Tubers with shallow eyes ;
crops and cooks well ; a field potato.
Dalmeny Red. — Coloured round. Tubers with crimson red
skin and shallow eyes; flesh, white; heavy cropper; good
cooker ; good for field culture ; robust grower and disease
resister.
Dalmenv Regent. — White round. Tubers, oval shaped, with
shallow eyes and netted skin ; heavy cropper ; good
cooker ; disease resisting ; a field potato.
Daniel's Special. — White round. Tubers, elongated round ;
heavy cropper; cooks well; good for garden culture and
exhibition; flov, ers, pure white.
De.an, The. — Coloured round. Tubers, deep violet coloured ;
heavy cropper ; cooks well ; an exhibition variety ; flowers,
blue ; tipped with white.
Diamond, 'i he (Johnson's). — White round. Tubers, pebble-
shaped with shallow eyes ; heavy cropper ; cooks splen-
didly ; does well on all soils ; flow^ers, white.
Discovery (Sutton's). — White round. Tubers, large, pebble-
shaped with a russety skin ; very heavy cropper ; cooks
dry and floury and is of splendid flavour ; resists dis-
ease ; flowers, white ; one of the finest late potatoes m cul-
tivation.
Dreadnought (Daniels'). — White round. Enormous cropper;
resists disease and cooks well.
Dumfries Model. — Wliite oval. Tubers, oval shaped ; heavy
cropper and splendid cooker ; good field potato.
Dunion. — White round. Tubers, large, pebble-shaped with
shallow eyes; skin rough and netted ; very heavy cropper;
cooks white, dry and mealy ; disease resisting.
East Anglian. — White kidney. Tubers, large, finely formed ;
skin, russety; free cropper; excellent cooker.
East Kent (Coleman's). — White round. Good cropiier and
disease resister; grown largely in Kent.
Edgcote Purtle. — Coloured kidney. Tubers, purple tinted
and handsomely shaped; fair cropper; a favourite exhibi-
tion variety.
Eldorado. — White oval. Tubers, elongated and kidney
shaped ; very handsome ; an enormous cropper ; habit,
robust; good cooker; disease resister; the potato which
in 1903 and 1904 created such a sensation and realised
such fabulous prices ; flowers, heliotrope, tipped with
white.
Empire Kidney (Findlay's). — White kidney. Tubers, hand-
somely shaped, of The Bruce Type; heavy cropper; excel-
lent cooker ; resists disease ; good for garden culture, in-
cluding market gardens.
LIST OF VARIETIES. 217
Empire State (Burpee's).— White kidney. Free cropper;
cooks dry and mealy ; of American orig-in.
Empress Queen (Fmdlay's).— White kidney. Tubers, even
sized and easily peeled; good cropper; first-rate cooker;
good saleable potato; suitable for field or g-arden culture ;
late.
EvERGOOD. — White round. Tubers, handsomely shaped ; eyes,
few and shallow ; heavy cropper ; splendid cooker and
fine flavoured variety; good alike for field or garden cul-
ture ; flowers, lilac, tipped with white.
Factor, The. — White oval. Tubers, oval shaped and large ;
an enormous cropper ; keeps remarkably well ; first-rate
cooker ; good for field or garden culture ; robust grower ;
flowers, mauve.
Farmer's Glory (Findlay's). — White kidney. Heavy cropper;
good cooker ; disease resister ; resembles 1 he Bruce
potato ; an excellent field potato ; late.
Favourite (Dobbie's). — White round. Tubers, medium sized
and finely shaped ; eyes, shallow ; good cropper and
cooker ; resists disease ; good for early use ; flowers, white.
Fidler'S Fame. — White kidney. Tubers, flattish and medium
sized ; free cropper and cooks well ; vigorous grower.
Fo.:iTYrOLD. — Coloured round. Tubers, streaked with purple ;
good cropper ; an old variety.
Fylde W'ONDER. — White oval. Tubers, oval to kidnej'
shaped ; a tremendous cropper ; cooks really well ; disease
resisting ; good garden potato.
General Buller. — ^White round. Tubers with a rough netted
skin ; g-ood cropper and cooker.
General White. — Coloured round. Tubers, finely formed
and pink coloured; good cropper; an exhibition variety;
flowers, white.
Gentleman, The. — White kidney. Tubers, with a rough skm
and shallow eyes ; a prolific variety ; cooks well.
Golden Wonder.— White kidney. Tubers, with a russety
skin; heavy cropper and first-rate cooker. ,. , , ^
GOLDFINDER (Webbs').— White round. Tubers, sbghtly flat-
tened, large and uniform in size ; flesh, white and fine
grained ; crops and cooks well ; good exhibition and
general ability potato.
GOODFELLOW (Fmdlay's), —White round. An enormous
cropper ; grand keeper ; good cooker ; disease resisting.
GOOD Hope (Davie's).— White kidney. Tubers, with shallow-
eyes ; heavy cropper and good cooker ; keeps well ; a good
market potato. , „ , , ,
Great DIVIDE (Burpee's).— White round. Tubers, oblong ;
strong grower and immense cropper ; keeps well ; cooks
dry and floury; of American origin.
Guardian.— Whi'C kidney. Free cropper; cooks well; resists
disease.
2lS THE POTATO.
Heather Blossom. —White oval. Tubers, oval-shaped ;
enormous cropper and gfood cooker.
Her Majesty-.— White round. Tubers, large ; very heavy
cropper; robust grower; does well on a heavy soil; good
for garden or field culture.
HiBERNIA (Findlay's). — Coloured round. Tubers, pink
coloured ; big 'cropper ; hardy, vigorous grower ; cooks
well ; resists disease ; late.
Highlander. — White round. Habit, robust; heavy cropper;
first-rate cooker ; disease resister.
Imperator. — White round. Heavy cropper ; good field potato.
Improved Kidney (Bobbie's).- White kidney. Heavy cropper ;
good cooker; disease resisting; flowers, lavender, tipped
with white.
Industry (Webbs'). — White round. Tubers, flattish and very
large ; cooks white and floury ; very heavy cropper and good
keeper.
Invincible (Fidler's). — Coloured round. A coloured form of
Charles Fidler, and possessing equally good qualities.
King Edward VII. — Coloured kidney. Tubers, handsomely
shaped ; eyes, tinged with pink ; very heavy cropper ; an
excellent cooker; disease resisting; good for garden cul-
ture or exhibition ; flowers, mauve.
King Loth (Davie's). — White round. Tubers, flattish round,
with netted skin ; good cropper and cooker.
King of the Russets (Carter's). — Coloured round. Tubers,
oval-shaped and pink skinned ; heavy cropper and good
keeper; cooks very floury; good garden potato.
Langworthy RIaincrop. — White kidney. Heavy cropper ; ex-
cellent cooker.
LiM Gray. — White round. Tubers, pebble-shaped ; flesh,
white ; heavy cropper ; splendid cooker ; haulm, dwarf ;
flowers, blush.
I.indum (Bradley). — White oval. Tubers, rather long and
oval-shaped ; habit, vigorous and branching ; an enormous
cropper; cooks very floury; introduced in 1905.
Lipton. — White round. Free cropper.
Long Keeper (Carter's). — White round. Tubers, inclined to
oval shape; heavy cropper; keeps well; cooks very floury;
good garden potato.
Lord Dundonald. — White round. Tubers, with shallow eyes
and netted skin ; an immense cropper ; first-rate cooker ;
strong grower.
Lord M.ansfield (Kerr's). — White round. Tubers, pebble-
shaped ; strong grower ; heavy cropper and good cooker ;
late.
Lord Roberts. — White round. Tubers beautifully shaped and
white ; an abundant cropper ; a vigorous grower ; good
cooker ; adapted for field or garden culture ; flowers, white.
LIST OF VARIETIES.
Magnum Bonum (Sutton's). — White kidney. A wonderful
cropper and good cooking: variety ; a most popular potato.
INIain Crop (Veitch's).— White round. Tubers, flattish, with
shallow eyes and rough skin; good cropper; disease re-
sister ; cooks splendidly.
Market KIxNG. — White kidney. Robust grower ; good cropper
and disease resister ; cooks well ; late.
Million Maker (Findlay's). — White kidney. Tubers, hand-
somely formed ; free cropper and vigorous grower ; cooks
v.'ell ; disease resisting; flowers white; mid-season.
Monarch. — White round. Tubers, with netted skin ; crops
and cooks well.
Moneymaker. — White oval. Tubers, oval-shaped ; a very
heavy cropper ; good cooker ; said to be the heaviest crop-
ping variety grown; flowers, heliotrope, tipped with white ;
late.
INIOTTLED Beauty. — Coloured kidney. Tubers, finely formed
and mottled ; fair cropper ; an exhibition variety ; flowers,
creamy white.
Mr. Ambrose. — Coloured round. Tubers, pink coloured, with
few and flat eyes ; enormous cropper ; excellent cooker.
New Empire (Webbs'). — White round. Tubers, flattish or
pebble-shaped ; heavy cropper, disease resister and good
cooker.
New Ideal. — Coloured round. Tubers, with a pink skin ;
cropping and cooking qualities good ; of American origin.
New Majestic (Webbs'). — White round. Tubers, flattish;
flesh, white ; heavy cropper, good cooker, and free from
disease ; a good exhibition potato.
New Victoria. — \Miite round. Tubers, oblong ; big cropper
and excellent cooker.
Nobleman (Deal's). — White kidney. Habit, dwarf and branch-
ing; tubers, large and handsome in shape; heavy cropper
and excellent cooker ; disease resisting.
Northern St.\r (Findlay's). — White round. Tubers, finely
shaped ; heaw cropper ; cooks well, especially when
baked; its disease-resisting qualities are doubtful ; flowers,
white ; late.
Peacemaker. — White kidney. Tubers with a netted skm ;
flowers, coloured; fair cropper; good cooker; suitable for
g-arden culture.
PeCKOVER. — White round. A cross between Beauty of Hebron
and Up-to-date.
PEERLESS Rose. — Coloured kidney. Tubers, flat, smooth and
pink coloured; eyes, shallow; good cropper; adapted for
garden culture or exhibition; of American origin.
Perfection (Toogood's). — White round. Tubers, handsome
in shape and beautifully netted ; good exhibition variety.
220 THE POTATO.
Pink Blossom. — Coloured round. Tubers, oval-shaped;
growth vigorous ; heavy cropper ; good cooker ; flowers,
heliotrope, tipped with white ; late.
Pink Perfection.— Coloured round. Tubers, slightly flat-
tened ; medium cropper ; cooks well ; an exhibition variety ;
flowers, mauve.
Prelude (Harrison's). — White round. Tubers, oblong, with a
clear white skin ; haulm, dwarf ; heavy cropper and disease
resister ; good cooker ; a good field or garden potato.
Prime Minister. — White round. Good cropper ; medium
grower; disease resisting-; flowers, mauve, tipped with
white.
Princess JMay (Daniel's). — Coloured kidney. Tubers, flat,
with shallow eyes and glossy red skin ; good cropper and
cooker.
Professor.— Coloured round. Tubers, flattish ; red; flesh,
white ; good cropper ; resists disease ; a good exhibition
potato.
Professor Mearkes. — ■V\'hite round. A variety noted for its
heavy yield, late keeping and good cooking qualities.
Progress (Webbs'). — White oval. Tubers, long and large,
with few and shallow eyes ; cooks very mealy ; prolific
cropper ; vigorous habit ; good garden and exhibition
potato.
Provost, The. — White round. Tubers, handsomely shaped
and very white ; good cropper and medium grower; cooks
well ; good for garden culture or exhibition ; flowers, white.
Purple King. — Coloured round. Tubers, purple skinned ;
heavy cropper.
Queen of the Veldt.— Coloured kidney. Tubers, purple
coloured ; heavy cropper ; free grower ; cooks well ; good
field potato ; flowers, white.
Reading Giant. — White kidney. A popular variety for market
culture; good cropper and cooker; does well on most soils.
Reading Russet.— Coloured round. Tubers, red, with finely
netted skin ; good cropper ; an excellent cooker ; good
variety for field or garden culture, or for exhibition ;
flowers, white.
Record (Fidler's). — ^White kidney. Good cropper and disease
resister; cooks and keeps well; good garden potato; a
cross between Fidler's Colossal and White Beauty of
Hebron.
Regent. — White round. Tubers, yellow, with a smooth or
wrinkled skin; flesh, yellow; good cropper; excellent
cooker; largely grown as a field potato; an old variety.
Reliance (Sutton's). — White kidney. Tubers of handsonie
shape and with a beautiful skin and shallow eyes ; heavy
cropper and good cooker ; resists disease well.
Rooi Potatar or NOR'WAY Red. — White Round. Tubers with
rough skin ; flesh white ; good cropper.
LIST OF VARIETIES. 221
Royal Sovereign (Daniels').— White oval or pebble-shaped.
Vig-orous grower; heavy cropper; cooks very floury; good
for garden, market, or exhibition purposes.
Satisfaction (Sutton's).— White round. Tubers, large,
pebble-shaped ; very heavy cropper ; first-rate cooker ; good
for field or garden culture ; disease resisting ; flowers,
white.
Saxon. — White round. Good cropper.
Schoolmaster. — White round. Tubers, large ; heavy Cropper ;
good cooker ; an old variety.
Scot, The. — White round. Tubers, oval-shaped ; good
cropper; an exhibition variety; flowers, lavender, tipped
with white.
Scottish Blue. — Coloured kidney. Tubers, oblong, flattened ;
skin, dark violet ; flesh, white ; uncertain cropper ; grown
in the north.
Scottish Champion. — White round. Tubers, roundish or flat-
tened ; skin and flesh, yellowish ; eyes, deeply sunk ;
flowers, violet, tipped with white; heavy cropper; good
cooker ; an old variety going out of cultivation.
Scottish Triumph. — White round. Good cropping and cook-
ing variety ; flowers, mauve.
Selected Russet (Bobbie's). — Coloured round. Tubers, red
and evenly shaped ; eyes, shallow ; good cropper and
cooker ; excellent for garden culture and exhibition ;
flowers, white.
Sensation. — White round. Tubers, roundish with shallow
eyes and netted skin ; heavy cropper and disease resister ;
an exhibition variety.
Sim Gray. — Synonymous with Lim Gray, which see.
Sir John Franklin. — ^White round. Tubers, oval-shaped ;
good cropper ; cooks well ; resists disease.
Sir Mark Stewart (Kerr's). — White kidney; medium grower;
heavy cropper ; good cooker.
Sir Robert Reid (Kerr's). — White round. Tubers, round to
pebble-shaped; medium haulm; good cropper and cooker.
Sirdar, The. — White round. Tubers, oval-shaped; enormous
cropper; g'ood cooker; flowers, mauve, tipped with white.
Snowball (Carter's). — White round. Tubers, with rough
skin ; flesh, white ; a cross between Schoolmaster and The
Canon ; heavy cropper and splendid cooker.
Southern Cross". -^White kidney. Good cropper and cooker ;
a variety of Irish origin.
Southern Star. — White kidney. Tubers, very large and
handsomely shaped; skin russety; heavy cropper; good
cooker ; excellent exhibition variety ; also suitable for field
and garden culture.
Springfield. — ^White round. Good cropper; cooks well; good
for garden culture oj exhibition ; flowers, creamy white ;
late.
222 THE POTATO.
Stourbridge Glory (Webbs'). — White oval. Flesh, pure
white and firm and floury when cooked ; good keeper and
heavy cropper ; a popular field and garden variety.
Superior (Burpee's). — White round. Tubers, oblong-; big
cropper ; cooks and keeps well ; of American origin.
Superlative (Suuon's). — White, pebble-shaped. A cross
between Windsor Castle and Up-to-date; an enormous
cropper; thorough disease resister; splendid cooker;
good alike for garden and field culture, or for exhibition.
Sutton Flourball (Sutton's). — White round. Heavy cropper ;
cooks like a ball of flour ; resists disease well.
Syon House Prolific. — White oval-round. Tubers, with
russety skin and shallow eyes ; an abundant cropper and
good keeper ; good exhibition potato.
Table King. — White round. Tubers, flattish round ; good
cropper and cooker ; vigorous grower.
Table Talk. — White round. Tubers, white with a netted
skin ; heavy cropper ; splendid cooker ; strong grower
and disease resister; flowers, mauve, tipped with white.
Tremendous (Toogood's). — White kidney. Tubers, very
large; averaging ilb. to ij-lb. each; heavy cropper; cooks
floury ; good garden and exhibition variety.
Twentieth CENXURV.^White round. Great cropper; good
quality.
Uncle Sam. — White round. Tubers, oval to kidney-shaped;
an enormous cropper ; robust grower ; resists disease ;
cooks like a ball of flour.
Universal (Daniels'). — White round. Tubers with netted
skin; eyes few and shallow; cooks floury; heavy cropper;
good keeper.
Up-TO-Date. — While kidney. Tubers, large and finely
formed; eyes, shallow; heavy cropper; first-rate cooker;
the popular potato for field and garden culture ; flowers,
mauve.
Up-TO-DaTE No. 2 (Findlay's). — White oval. Similar to Up-to-
Date, except that it is a stronger grower, and a better
cooker.
Vicar of Laleham. — Coloured round. Tubers, violet-skinned,
oblong and flattened ; good cropper and cooker ; good
garden or exhibition potato.
Village Blacksmith. — Coloured round. Tubers, dark and
netted ; flesh, white ; medium cropper ; cooks well.
Warrior. — White round. Tubers, with shallow eyes and
netted skin ; heavy cropper ; good cooker ; strong grower ;
flowers, mauve ; late.
Waverley. — Coloured kidney. Tubers, pink coloured ; good
cropper and cooker; crop is ready to lift in August; good
for garden culture and exhibition ; flowers, white.
Yorkshire Glory. — White pebble-shape. Said to be a heavy
cropper and a promising market variety.
]\ Y«ice Fell, Iik*= ?5. F^^^IIin^ S^^r.
OVAV^
-hLONDONq;
>^r
CLAY'S
FERTILIZER
is an
UP.TO DATE
FACTOR
for
ABUNDANCE
and
TRIUMPH.
By its use
the Wilderness
becomes an
ELDORADO.
Fr«m RorJIi^rn St^r t« SoulL'^rn Sl?vr.
( 1 )
A PRACTICAL GARDENING WORK.
Vegetables
AND THEIR CULTIVATION.
J
By T. H. SAXDERS. F.L.S., FR.M.S.. Editorof "Amateur Gardenias-'
and " The Profitable Farm and Garden."
5 Net .An Up to Date Practical Treatise on the Cultiva-
/_ tion and Forcing of Vegetables, Saladings, and
/ Herbs for Home Use and Exhibition ; the Forma=
(By Post, 5 6) tion of the Vegetable Garden ; Manures and their
Uses ; Pests and Diseases, with Remedies for their Prevention
and Eradication, etc., etc. Crown 8vo, bound in cloth, 464
pages, 140 Illustrations, 8 Photo Plates, and 5 Coloured
Plates of Insect Pesis.
CONTENTS :
Formation of the Vegetable Garden.— Site— Shelter
— Plans of Gardens — Drainage — I'aths — Edgings — Fences, etc., with
Apprciximate Cost.
Soils and their Treatment.— Clay- Loam, Sandy, and
Old Garden Soils — Testing, Paring, and Burning — Trenching — Ridging
and Digging — Amelioration and Nitrification.
Manures and their Uses. — Nitrogenous, Phosphatic, and
Potassic — Natural and Artificial — Mixing and Application of Manures -
Every Kind of Manure Described.
Crops and their Rotation Three and Four Course
Systems — Catch Crops — Successional Cropping.
General Operations.— Planting— Watering— Seed Sowing-
Seed Saving — Thinning Crops — Tools and their Uses — Seed Store,
— Mulching — Forcing — Retarding, etc.
Exhibiting. — Growing — Staging — Packing, etc.
Pests and Disease. — Every prominent Pest and Disease fully
described, and Remedies for their Eradication or Prevention given.
Popular Vegetables. — Common Names — Botanical Names —
Foreign Names — Natural Order — Native Habitat — History — Uses, etc.
Culture of each Vegetable. — Suitable Soil— iManures—
Planting — Propagation — Forcing — Lifting and Storing — Gathering, etc.
Selection of Varieties.— List of Best Kinds for Culture for
Flome Use and for Exhibition.
Useful Tables for Vegetable Grovwers.— Name-
When to Sow or Plant — When Ready for Use — Number of Days Seeds
take to Germinate — Time Crop takes to reach Maturity — Longevity of
Seeds — Quantity of Seeds, Tubers, etc., to Sow or Plant a Row of 50 ft.
Calendar of Operations.- Showing Work to be Done in
connection with each Vegetable during each Month in the Year.
" An ideal bnok — clear, full and instructive." -Sheffield Indepcnd^rnt.
PUBLISHED BY
W H & L. COLLINCRIDCE, 148 & 149, Aldersgate^Street, London.
( 2 )
5
y-
A PRACTICAL GARDENING WORK .
i The Amateurs Greenhouse. 1
By T. W. SANDERS, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., Editor of "Amateur Osrdialag ••
and " Profitable Farm and Qardea."
A Complete Quide to the Construction, Heating
and Management of Greenhouses, and the
Cultivation of Greenhouse Plants. Crown 8vo,
(By Post 5/6.) bound in cloth, 416 pages, 154 Illustrations, 16
plates printed on art paper, 2 coloured plates and coloured
frontispiece.
CONTENTS :
Greenhouse Construction.— Lean-to and Span-Roof
Structures — Site and Position — Mode of Construction — What constitutes
a Tenant's Fixture — Foundations — Walls — Woodwork — Ventilators —
Staging — Painting and Glazing.
Heating. — Flues — Hot Air Stoves— Home Made Oil Stoves-
Hot Water Apparatus, heated by Oil, Gas, or Fuel — Hot Water
Piping — Stoking Small Boilers — Joints in Hot Water Pipes — Painting
Hot Water Pipes — Fixing and Managing a Saddle Boiler — Tenants^
Fixtures.
' Ma.na.g;ement. — Arrangement of Interior — Overcrowding —
Temperatures — Ventilation — Watering — Forcing — Composts — Manures —
Pots and their Sizes — Shading — Blinds — Fumigating.
Plant . Propagation.— Appliances — How to Make a Portable
Propagator — Propagation by Seed — Propagation by Cuttings — Leaf
Cuttings — Stem Cuttings — Root Cuttings — Stem Rooting — Offsets —
Division — Grafting.
Cultivation — A full list of popular Greenhouse Plants alpha-
betically arranged, giving Species — Propagation — Suitable Soils —
Temperature — Watering, and every detail for sncoessfnl culture.
Pests, and how to Eradicate them.— Ants— Aphides
Mites — Chrysanthemum Insects — Cockroaches — Crickets — Cuckoo
Spit or Frog-hopper — Earwigs — Eelwonns — -Leaf Miners — Millepedes —
Mealy Bug — Red Spider — Scale — Slugs and Snails — Snow Flies —
Springtails — Thrips — Weevils — Wireworms — Woodlioe — Worms, &c. -,
Carnation Diseases — Chrysanthemum Ruat — Damping-o£f Disease —
Hvacinth, Tulip and Lily Diseases — Mildew — Orange Mould.
W. H.& L. COLLINCRIDCE, 148 & 149, Aldersgate Street, London.
( 3 ) Q
PRACTICAL GARDENING WORKS
Easily Grown
Hardy Perennials.
By GEORGE H. VOS, B.A. Editorially supervised by T. W. SANDERS.
F.L S., F.R.H.S., Editor of " Amateur Gardeoiag" aad "Profitable
Farm aad Garden."
Net Directions for the Culture and Propagation of
f / Hardy Perennials, Notes on Habit and Uses,
0/~ Derivation, Order, Qenera, Species, Engrlish
By Post 5/6. Names, etc. Crown 8vo, bound in cloth, 476
pages. Illustrated by 255 reproductions of Photographs
from nature.
" We think this is one of the very best that has been pnMished of its class, and
the cultural details are especially valuable as clearly based on actual experience."—
The Gardeners' Chronicle.
" The ereat value of this book, its artistic charms apart, lies in the minute particn-
lars, simply set forth, of the various meUiOds ol cultivation, propagation, &c. —
Yorkskirt 'Post.
fENC YCLOP/EDIA OF GARDENING.)
By T. W. SANDERU, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., Editor of "Amateur
Gardening" and "Profitable Farm and Garden."
A complete Dictionary of Cultivated Plants,
3 /ft Flowers, Fruit, Vegetables, Trees, and Shrubs,
/^ with Descriptions, Popular and Technical
Post Free. Names, Order, Date of Introduction into this
country. Number of Species in Cultivation,. How Propagated,
Time of Planting, Position, Suitable Soil, Treatment,
Proper Temperature, &c. Crown 8vo, bound in cloth,
^52 pages, including 2o>page Addenda.
" The aim of this useful book is eminently practical — to give in .t small compass
the principal details relating to garden plants -which an amateur is likely to want." —
Gardeners^ Chronicle.,
" We recommend the work heartily as a guide to the majority of things that concern
the general culture of plants, from the cutting or seed to the full-grown specimen." —
Gardening Illustrated.
W. H. & L. COLLINCRIDCE, 148 & 149, AUtei-sgate Street, London.
( 4 )
PRACTICAL GARDENING WORKS.
I Rose s and their Cultivation. |
By T. W. SANDERS, F.L.S., F.R.H.S., Editor of "Amateur Gardenlog "
and " Profitable Farm a ad Garden.'*
^ J A Practical Guide to the Cultivation of the
Rose, Outdoors and under Glass, with a Synop-
2 /ft *'* *** **'^ Different Types of koses ; Schedule
/^ of all the Varieties Worthy of Culture in
(By Post 2,9 ) British Gardens ; Insect Pests and Fungoid
Diseases, and How to Eradicate Them. Crown
8vo bound in cloth, 164 pages, coloured frontispiece. 8
Photo Plates, and 50 Illustrations.
CONTENTS:
The Propagation of Roses — The Ways to Grow them— How to
Plant Roses — How to Prune, Bud, and Graft Roses — How to Show
Roses — Ho^^' to Grow Pot Roses — Greenhouse Climbers — Types of
Koses, Vfith full description, Mode of Culture, etc.— Glossary of Rose
Terms — The Enemies of the Rose and How to Eradicate Them — Manures
for Roses (Natural and Artificial ) — The Rose Grower's Calendar, showing
what to do each month. Full List of Cultivated Roses : Variety,
Section or Class, Date Introduced, Colour, Habit of Growth, How Best
Gro.vn, Mode and Time of Pruning, Description of Flower.
" This book can be honestly recommended as far and away the best of its kind for the
noviceas well as the more experienced in the delightful art of rose culture."— Z>tt«^tfl^
A dz'ertiser.
I Special Manures 1
For Garden Crops. I
By A. B. aWFFITHS, Ph.D., etc
2 A Complete Guide . as ta the most. Suitable
/• Soils and Manures for the successful culture
' of— Greenhouse Plants— Hardy Annuals— Half-
(Post Free.) Hardy Annuals and Biennials — Perennials —
Vegetables — Herbs — Flowering Plants — Shrubs — Fruits —
Salads— Grass for Lawns— Mushrooms. Crown 8vo, bound
in Cloth.
"One cf the most valuable contributions upon the subject of manures for the
trarden with which we are acquainted. The work consists of 12S pa^es, overflowing
with manurial information of the verj' best kind."— 7",4^ Garrlenc-s Chronicle.
W. H. & L. COLLINCRIDCE, 148 A 149, Aldersgate street, London.
( S )
PRACTICAL GARDENING WORKS.
t
Chrysanthemums
And How to Grow Them for Exhibition.
1/-
By J. B. WROE.
A complete Quide to Growing for Exhibition,
with Instructions for Timing and Stopping, for
(By Post 1/2) Northern, Southern, and Midland Growers—
(Cloth, 16; Taking the Buds — Selections of the Best
by Post, 18.) Varieties, &c. Crown 8vo. Illustrated.
CONTENTS :
Propagation — Second Polling — ThLtd Potting — Final Potting — Propor-
tions for Soil — Summer Quarters — Watering — Feeding — Plousing tlie
Plants — Damping — Timing the Blooms — Dressing — Staging — Selection
of Varieties for the North — Selection of Varieties for the South — Timing
and Stopping (How and when to proceed with each variety for Northern,
Southern, and Midland Growers) — Taking the Buds — Specimen Plants —
Chrysanthemum Enemies and Friends.
I Gardening Year Book. |
By the EDITOR OP THE •'GARDENERS' MAGAZINE."
••«* A Store of Practical Information and Quide to
|/- the Garden for the whole year. Crown 8vo,
(By Post, 1,3.) strongly bound. Numerous illustrations.
The Contents include :
A Year's Work in' the Garden: What to do Month by Month-
Vegetables, Fruit, and Flowers — The Greenhouse and Conservatory-
Lists of New Plants, Flowers, Yruits, and Vegetables— Modern
Methods of Potato Culture — Lawns and Lawn Games — Tomato
Culture— Rock Gardening for Amateurs — Flowers in Vases— The Use
of Manures — Climbing and Rambling Roses — Directory of Horticul-
tural Societies of the United Kingdom — Recipes and Hints for
Gardeners — Garden Insect Peats — Tables and Measures — Postal and
Telegraph Information — ^A Calendar and Ruled Diary — Ruled Pages
for Records of Garden Operations and Crops.
"The value of this book is entirely out of proportion to the modest shilling, which is
all it costs. From it the reader can not only learn the daily work to be performed in the
garden but particulars as to greenhouse plants, fruit, flower, and vegetable culture." —
Lcidies' Field.
W. H. & L. GOLLINGRIDCE, 148 & 149, Aldersgate Street, London.
( 6 )
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