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scarcely be noticed, and that it will cause no more apprehension for the 

 safety of the potatoe crop, than the fungi which attack wheat and turnips 

 now cause for the safety of those crops. It is essential that this should 

 be distinctly understood and borne in mind; hasty and erroneous con- 

 clusions may thereby be prevented, as it is probable many seeming in- 

 consistencies will be observed, which this knowledge alone will satisfac- 

 torily explain. 



Our next consideration is, what expedients should now be resorted to 

 in the general cultivation of the potatoe to enable our plants to oflfer the 

 greatest resistance to the action of adverse influences and thereby miti- 

 gate the effects of the blight. We should in the first place select those 

 varieties for cultivation which have been proved to be the most hardy and 

 healthy, and therefore least affected by the disease. It may be well here- 

 after to grow potatoes specially for sets in order that we may have the most 

 healthy and vigorous plants which the variety cultivated is capable of 

 affording. A somewhat open airy situation should be selected for the 

 seed-bed. If the land has been manured for the previous crop, and is 

 in good condition, plant without manure. But if the land is not in good 

 heart, then apply, broad-cast, a slight dressing of well-rotted stable ma- 

 nure, or guano, and where they are to be had, use in preference, charcoal 

 dust, charred turf, or partially decayed leaves ; the object being to pro- 

 mote a steady, healthy, and vigorous, but not over-luxuriant growth. — 

 Plant the tubers whole, not less than six inches deep, and let the rows or 

 hills be about two feet and a half apart. The same distance between the 

 plants is of course not suitable for all varieties ; this must be regulated 

 by the planter's knowledge of the habits of the varieties he cultivates ; 

 the point he should aim at is, to have the whole of the ground covered 

 by foliage during the bright days of summer, but so that the plants of 

 one rov/ shall not interfere with or shade those of another. 



Plants grown for seed-tubers should never be suffered to blossom. If 

 a plant produces many blossoms and seeds it will be at the expense 

 of the tubers; that is, the sap which would be expended in sup- 

 port of the flowers and fruit, would contribute to the growth of the 

 tubers if the flowers were destroyed. But that is not my reason for 

 recommending this practice with plants grown specially for sets. Many 

 facts observed in various kinds of plants, lead me to suspect that the pro- 

 duction of seeds has a peculiarly exhausting effect on vitality, and I am 

 much inclined to believe that if ever the experiment is tried, it will be 



