A GREAT POTATO PATCH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 67, 13 December 1918, Page 8

A GREAT POTATO PATCH

iTHE swissmultum in parvo. '"Within the past two years there have 1 sen numerous descriptions in the Anieloan Press of the multi-lnyer method of towing, potatoes either where ground is ; a' premium such as in large centres | population, or -where the soil is too lallow to sustain crops, such as in the lining regions . The usual method,is-to choose a small rea' of ground, which may he 20 feet jiiare, more or less. This is eunomuled I a'common rail fence, or other form of iblosure. such as si picket fence, having iterstices of a few inches and built 8 j.lO feet, high. A layer of earth and ianure is laid, and in this potatoes are lanted after the usual manner; Upon, lis", first layer 50 successive layers of irth arid manure are superimposed, and irtVitbes are planted in each of the layers. !The vines of the potatoes emerge not ily from the top but also through the iterstices of tho enclosure until it has ;come a mass of. surrounding vines, he yield is said to be nhenomonal, con'dering the area covered,' and tho labour Sd ■ expense involved. ... (The potato "holds a nlace among the jbple of Switzerland little below that of tead. The country is rather pastoral lan agricultural, and potatoes, as well 1 wheat, are imported. The scarcity fid 'Inch price of potatoes press heavily bon the populace. To remedy this tho fople are turning to what they call the merican nietbnd of ■production. Back jirfls and small spaces nrebeingutilispd; hd, as there are no rail, picket onclostes aro erected, and the nlan of cou■ruction and planting already referred to fe frequently to be seen. It is reported nt the crop outlook is most nromisine;, jd should the yjelil nrove satisfactory. |e question nf domestic production will jive been.solved, es it wp'ild easily lie ithin the power of many Swiss families I raise tlieir own notatoes nnon areas j around insufficient' when cultivated by dinary methods.