PITTING POTATOES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 570, 24 May 1913, Page 3

PITTING POTATOES.

It is not advisable to allow potatoes to remain in the ground after the haulm has died down, as there is a great risk of them becoming diseased at this stage. The crop should be lifted a i soon as the skin will resist rubbing, says an exchange. The construction of the pit has a good deal to do with the keeping of the potatoes. To allow of proper "steaming" the pits should be kept narrow and due attention paid to covering. It is not a good plan to cover the thatch with earth immediately after pitting, as many a rotten tuber can be traced directly to immediate covering with earth. Even in a small pit there is a certain amount of heating, particular ly during the first few weeks. Even after the earth has been put on the sides it is advisable to leave the straw or thatch uncovered on the ridge of the pit, until the heavv frosts set in, as it is not the earth which is put on the pit which keeps out the wet. Some growers, even where severe frosts are experienced, leave the ridge without soil. throughout the winter, simply putting on a layer of potato tops or of old straw. A better plan, however, is to cover the pits complete with straw a month or so after pitting, leaving at intervals of a few feet ventilating shafts, in the form of drain pipeß or wisps of straw. As to the condition of potatoes which are put into the pits it is generally thought that they should not be too clean, as a little soil or sand adhering to them prevents them coming into too close contact with each other, and so minimise "heating," and spread of rot. If it is thought that diseased potatoes are present, a good plan is to dust a little lime among them. When this ig done the potatoes come out of the pit in the spring time very clean and bright, and although lime will not prevent a tuber from decaying it will prevent rot from spreading from a bad potato to those in contact with it. Crushed lime, it is found, froves much better for this purpose t'jan slaked lime. It may be found, however, that the use of lime i.iij a tende! to encourage the early sp/outing of the potato, but his will be found a minor matter compared with the prevention of the spread of rot throughout the bulk.