124 ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO. 



through, leaving the refuse back. Again mix the seed with plenty 

 of clean water, pass it into a sieve small enough in the meshes to 

 retain the seed, keep working the sieve well in the water till you 

 are certain the seed is entirely free from the pulp, then dry 

 thoroughly on a thin cloth in the sun, or indoors in a dry situation. 

 It will then be fit for use. Sow in ]\Iarch month in a box filled 

 with properly prepared mould, covering the seed about half-an- 

 inch with the earth. The box may then be placed in a green- 

 house of moderate temperature, care being taken to keep the 

 earth in equal heat and moisture. 



"When the plants are a few inches above the ground, which 

 should be in about a month, pick out the most robust with plenty 

 of earth attached, and transplant them to an early border, which 

 should slope to the south, manured, say with one-fourth lime, 

 one-fourth M'ood-ash, and one-half decayed leaf-mould, all mixed 

 together and scattered over the surface of the border. The lime 

 will prevent destruction by worms, woodash (the food of the 

 plant), will improve the skin and growth of the potato, and the 

 leaf mould will serve as a nutriment. The sets should be planted 

 twelve inches apart so as not to obstruct each other. Water a 

 little when requisite. Hand weed. Draw the earth carefully 

 from time to time round the necks of the plants, taking care not 

 to chop, cut, or injure the stems, and continue their culture the 

 same as other potatoes. You will know when the}^ are ready for 

 lifting by the leaves turning yellow and the decay of the shaws ; 

 they may then be forked up and stored. Those that ripen by the 

 middle of June should be put away marked as earlies, and those 

 about July as second earlies, and the late ones as standard kinds. 



It Avill be vears of continuous cultivation before vou Q-et 

 quantity, or even some proof as to quality, of any single variety, 

 but just go on, carefully keeping every kind separate. Discard 

 all weak plants, and only grow those that appear to be compact 

 in growth, well formed in the tuber and vigorous in habit. 

 Carefully store the produce of each plant in a box by itself. 



In JMarch replant, during a moist day, each variety in a drill 

 by itself in an open field of easy soil, and in a well sheltered 

 situation having a southern aspect, properly ploughed and 

 manured the previous autumn with about twenty tons of farm- 

 yard manure to the acre. Open furrows three feet apart, and 

 plant sixteen inches from set to set. Plant carefully, not to 

 injure the sprouts, placing the sets with the eyes uppermost. 

 Potatoes that have not sprouted but merely pushed out buds are 

 the best, but if the sprouts are long they should be removed, as 

 it would be difficult, unless in garden planting, to keep them 

 entire. The setters, who should move in a retrograde position, 

 should be provided with baskets from which to drop the sets into 

 the drills. Make it a strict rule to cover up each drill as soon as 



