EARLY POTATOES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 2501, 10 August 1893, Page 2

EARLY POTATOES.

(Specially written for Stab.)

A short time ago, in a note entitled 11 Pens and Pennies," I suggested " Plant potatoes," as therejs always a demand for them, and don't glut tbe literary market with articles, whioh are not wanted by either the editor or the public. I repeat tbe advice. A month or two ago I advised growers to hold stocks of potatoes, as I was sure they would be dear this spring. As a matter of fact prime eating are wortb £6 a too in very many parts of New Zealand and good early seed, average £d. Any new oboioe sorts fetch 3d per 1b readily retail.

I may say tbat prettier and finer grained Princo of Wales and Aehleaf kidneys (with wbioh Dr. Leatbam won at New Plymouth and Hawera, and I got home at Patea), I never saw, than last seasons grown in New Plymouth and Waitara respectively. One of tbe most delightful rewards ol tbe amatenr gardener is to put hiß fork under tbe milk white, or rosy flashed, tubers early in November or even, if be live near the sea, in October year )*v ye -.

First i ' >i<) terrible seaaon of deluge, I need h . - say, tbe land must be of a porouo nature, and slope enough to drain itself naturally.

If the slope is away from — not over against tbe morning sun — bo much the better, as I find frosts do not do much harm if tbe morniDg snn does not strike full upon tbe plants. Tbia all gardners koow. In any case then tbe coil must be Hght, and on a elope. Secondly, tbe tubers must be thoroughly sound, and wbole seeds not cut must be used. Tbe seed tubers should have been stood end up, in shallow boxeß, but in any case must have thick, strong shoots of healthy, green colour, well developed. White, spindly eboots are certain to fail in tbe sodden ground. Thirdly, the ground mast be well manured with dry manure, such as bone-dust. Fourthly, as soon as the eboots appear, nse the hoe ev9ry day to keep tbe ground stirred. This is tbe real secret of cultivation of tbe potato : constant surface working. Elbow grease is the patent receipt to bring polish, size, and flavour. I always top-dress with tbe droppings from my fowl bonce, mixed with fresh earth, and just Btir ia ander tbe surface with the Datch boe. Ash Leaf Kidney— Tbe first early, ( Concluded on page i-J ,