iSyi. 



JOTTINGS ON THE POTATO. 



95 



warm atmosphere, with a circulation of 

 air to secure good flavour. Cease giving 

 manure-water at the root as soon as the 

 first signs of colouringare noticed. Where 

 fruit is swelling, and it is desirable to 

 have them ripe as early as possible, the 

 night temperature may be kept 65° to 

 70° with impunity, and 10° more with 

 sun-heat by day. Carry out last month's 

 directions as to the starting of succes- 

 sion plants, and the temperature in 

 which it is best to start them. Do not 

 expose any very early plants, from which 

 the fruit may be gathered at the end of 

 the month, suddenly to cold ; but har- 

 den them off and otherwise care for 

 them till they can be planted out. They 

 will yield fine early runners for potting 

 for early forcing, and make fine stools 

 for cropping outdoors next year. 



Cucumbers. — Those that were sown 

 last will be ready to plant out by the 

 middle of this month. Cucumbers like 

 a rather light rich loam, with a third 

 part of well-rotted mushroom-dung or 

 leaf-mould, sifted finely and well mixed 



with the soil. If to be grown on trel- 

 lises near the glass, plant a plant every 

 2-feet run of the house. Plant deep, 

 up to the seed-leaf, and train the leader 

 without being stopped ; but stop the 

 lateral growths at each joint, where a 

 fruit, and in some cases two, will ap- 

 pear and swell. Water always with 

 water at 80° to 85°, and keep the night 

 temperature at 70°, giving more or less 

 air daily to prevent spindly growths. 



Melons. — Plant out in a heavier and 

 less rich soil than recommended for 

 Cucumbers. Train them in the very 

 same way, and they will show fruit on 

 the second growth. Grow them with 

 less water than is required for Cucum- 

 bers, or they will be more subject to 

 make wood, and be more shy in flower- 

 ing than is desirable. Keep the tem- 

 perature the same as for Cucumbers, 

 and air regularly to prevent a thin de- 

 velopment of foliage and weak flowers. 

 Sow for succession crops. 



French Beans. — See last month's 

 "Calendar." D. T. 



JOTTINGS ON THE POTATO. 



Must I plant large, middle-sized, or small Potatoes ? is a question often 

 asked by amateurs and the uninitiated ; and it is not to be wondered 

 at, considering the diversity of opinion held by practical men. You 

 will be told by one successful cultivator, large Potatoes are best for 

 sets ; another cultivator, whose authority on the subject may be quite 

 as weighty, will tell you not to plant large Potatoes, or your young Pota- 

 toes will be robbed of a great amount of nourishment when they most 

 require it. I have seen good crops of Potatoes from all kinds of sets ; 

 so I have come to the conclusion that soil and cultivation have more to 

 do with the proper development of the Potato than anything else, pro- 

 vided the season is favourable. We had very good crops of Potatoes 

 here last season — 800 lb. of Red Eegents from 96 square yards was 

 the largest and heaviest lot. We had also a splendid crop of Patter- 

 son's Victoria. The ground upon which they were grown is very black 

 and heavy. It was trenched in the autumn, and vegetable soil spread 

 over it when the Potatoes were planted. Middle-sized Potatoes were 

 used as sets for the Eegents, and large Potatoes for Patterson's Vic- 

 toria. They were planted about 6 inches deej), 2 feet between the 

 rows, and 18 inches between each plant. I noticed where there was a 

 particularly fine root, an extra quantity of vegetable soil was sure to 

 be near it. What I call vegetable soil is leaves and all kinds of rub- 



