POTATO GROWING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1923, 7 January 1919, Page 4

POTATO GROWING.

SWISS METHOD. Within the past two years there have been'numerous descriptions inHie Anicrican press of Ihe multilayer method of growing .potatoes, either where ground is at a premium such as in large centres of population, or where the soil is too shallow to sustain crops, such as in the mining regions. The usual method is to choose a small area of ground, which may he. 20 feel square, more or less. This, surrounded bv a common rail fence, or other form of enclosure, such as a picket fence, having interstices of a few inches and built 8 or 10 feet high. A layer of earth and manure is laid, and. in lliis potatoes are planted after the usual manner. Upon this first layer 10 successive layers of earth and manure are superimposed, and potatoes are planted in each of the layers, -The vines of the potatoes emerge not only Horn the top, but also through the interstices ot the enclosure until it has become a mass of surrounding vines. The yield is said to be phenomenal, consideringthe area covered, and the labour and expense involved. • The potato holds a place among the people of Switzerland little lielow thill of bread. The country is rather pastoral than agricultural, and potatoes, as 'veil as wheat, are imported. The scarcity and high price of potatoes press heavily upon the populace. To remedy this (he people arc turning to what they call the American method of production. Back yards and sum 11 spaces are being utilised; and, its there are no rail, picket enclosures ere erected, ami (he plan of construction ami planting already referred to is frequently to he seen, ft i is reported that (he crop otillook is. most promising, ami should the vie Id prove sa list a dory, the queslion of domes! u* production will have been solved, and it Would easily lie within the power of many Swiss families lo raise their own potatoes upon areas of ground insufficient when cultivated by ordinarv methods.