EARTHING UP POTATOES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 140, 3 September 1927, Page 26

EARTHING UP POTATOES

The earthing up of potatoes is one of the •simplest of garden operations. ; but there is more in this method of I treating the growing crop than some growers imagine. It may be as well to explain for the benefit of the imitated some of the benefits to be derived by drawing up the soil toward the plants and forming a ridge or drill. The runners or stelens to which the tubers are attached are produced near the surface of the ground, and it | therefore necessary to provide a covering of soil that will prevent exposure to the light and cause tlxc potatoes to turn green, a condition that | makes them unfit for table use. Earthing' up also supports the haulm, while the sloping sides of the ridge are usetill in running off heavy rains, thus I avoiding an excess of moisture, which in certain soils creates conditions favourable to the outbreak and spread of ■ up before the stolens are formed and while that stage of growth varies according to the type, gardeners are generally guided by the height of the foliage which should not exceed si;-: inches. In drawing up the soil on either side of the row, care must betaken not to injure the roots with tinhoe, and the sloping sides of the ridgeshould have a slight hollow at the apex. Preparatory to the actual work of earthing up. a little time may be profitably spent in forking the ground between the rows and removing the weeds which, if allowed to remain, are difficult to eradicate later on when the foliage lias fully developed. If the soil was enriched with organic manure in winter or spring, a. light surface dressing of sulphate of ammonia at the rate of loz. to a running yard has a beneficial effect on the weight of the crop when applied at the lioeing season. CORRECT HEDGE TRIMMING A neatly-trimmed hedge Js a splendid set-off to a garden. Many hedges are spoilt from want of proper and seasonable clipping and trimming. It is generally when hedges are young that they are permitted to run riot and grow out of shape. If the hedge has been well planted and is growingwell, it will not be at all difficult to keep it in proper form, if trimmed carefully once or twice • a year with the shears or hedgebill. The shears makes the better job, especially in the trimming of privet or tecoma. but an expert at plying the hedgebill will make an admirable job, nevertheless. For the first few years the young growth should be cut fairly hard in, especially on the sides. If the young hedge looks thin and irregular, it must bo cut well down to induce a thicker growth. The late autumn is doubtless the best time to trim hedges, but they may also be trimmed during the summer, though not quite so severely as in the autumn. The hedge is clipped more easily if done before the wood gets ripe and hard. The hedge looks neater, too, and is in less danger of being broken down.