ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO. 127 



seed suited to the soil you intend to plant in. Eocks, regents, and 

 kidney potatoes put out long filaments and throw their tubers 

 wide of the shaw, so that it is injurious to plant these varieties 

 in a strong soil, which naturally hinders their growth, when a 

 light sandy soil would encourage that particularity and give them 

 free scope. Other kinds, the Victoria for instance, press the 

 tubers so closely together that the soil in this respect is not of 

 so much consequence ; yet strong soils, as a rule, do not give 

 potatoes of fine quality or the best adapted for table use. 



Material good has been produced in keeping away disease, by 

 transferring seed from one locality to another. Eemove from an 

 unproductive to a more generative soil, and from a cold to a 

 more genial climate, if you wish to propagate largely. If whole 

 sets are available they are the surest and best for planting. They 

 should weigh 2 or 3 ounces each. If cut seed is used the number 

 of sets must depend on the size of the tuber and the number of 

 eyes they possess. Kidneys and flukes are best planted whole, 

 as they have few eyes and only at the rose end. Victoria may 

 be cut into two sets straight down the centre. Eegents, rocks, 

 early round, and bovinia in angles, ranging in size and number 

 according to the eyes of each tuber. When seed potatoes are 

 fresh and in good order, they cut crisp and exude a good deal of 

 moisture, which soon evaporates. The ground should be ready 

 to receive them when cut, and it is not good to heap them up in 

 a cart, shed, or barn when cut. I believe most positive injury 

 is done to the crop by such treatment, as fermentation wall set 

 in and destroy life. The surest and best method is to cut and 

 plant immediately. It will take 12 or 15 cwt. of potatoes to 

 plant an acre. 



In regard to varieties, they are at present so numerous that a 

 list is of little use, as the application would depend on the soil 

 and climate. There is no difficulty in selecting for field or 

 garden planting, potatoes which have at least undergone a 

 partial test, conducted with great care, and reported upon from 

 time to time by professional and amateur growers. This enables 

 others to select seed best suited to different localities. No 

 absolute rule can be laid down as to when particular kinds may 

 be planted, but they may be classed in three divisions. Plant 

 early kidneys in February, second earlies in March, and late 

 varieties on to May. Bovinia, being of quick growth, may be 

 planted as late as June. 



Although I have compiled these remarks from my own expe- 

 rience, and ■ not gathered them from books, I do not presume to 

 uphold them as a complete guide to agriculturists, but rather in 

 the hope that they will add one link to agricultural knowledge 

 and domestic economy. 



Before concluding, I would ask agriculturists of experience 



