GARDENING NOTES

Nelson Evening Mail, 16 September 1916, Page 6

GARDENING NOTES

Potato lands hould be -well dug over, and manured, also, bonedust makes a fine potato-feeder. Use a handful every 30 feet -when the day is calm. A barrowload of stable-litter would do for 20 feet of furrow. Lightly fork the furrow or trench after manuring. Let the furrows be at least 24 inches apart. Buy seed a few weeks before planting. Sprout potatoes first, by placing tubers in a shallow box and covering them -with moistsand; keep box in a warm corner. You can then see how the eyes are placed, and. divide better. "When the land is moist at planting time the "sets" need not be large, and any piece about by 14, with either one or two eyes will gtow well. In dry times the larger pieces keep the young plant supplied with food and water. Should the eyes be well out. be careful not to knock them off. Place the sets at least six inches deep—take a spade and press it down blade deen. Shove it away from you, and into the opening drop the piece of potato. One "set* * every 18 or 24 inches is about right placing, draw out the spade, and the earth falls in and over the potato. Press down with your foot to firm the soil. Keep ground well hoed, over to prevent evaporation and check weeds. As the plants grow hill up earth round them to keep the voung tubers well co■vered, and the hilling also takes the place of hoeing, and keeps the soil well aired. If a late frost comes on -when the plants are growing, you can save them if yon run straw or grass along the rows. The straw mulch will always attract the frost and keep it off the leaves. Potato land should be rich and light, sandy loam that has been well manured turns out an early crop, while heavy loams seem to hold back the potatoes. Potatoes are ready for digging when the tops begin to turn yellow.