RAISING SEEDLING POTATOES. 



lightly. Some of the seedlings of the Oregon and Wild Peruvian are of this 

 character. Other and more valuable sorts, as the Early Pink Eyes, Mountain 

 Junes, and Carters, among the old sorts, and the Mountain June, Pink p]yc, 

 Garnet Chili, and Black Diamond, with many others of my new seedlings, are 

 capable of retaining their vitality through a pretty long drought at midsummer, 

 and then recovering and completing the growth of their tubers on the occurrence 

 of sufficient rains. It is true, that such late growth is often unfavorable to the 

 fine quality of potatoes for the table, as was painfully shown all over our country 

 in 1853 and 1856 ; yet, in itself, as a sign of strong vitality, it is a most desirable 

 quality. There is, of course, a degree to which dry weather may exist which 

 nothing can resist. Such was the summer of 1854. When the rains of Septem- 

 ber 8th came, there was no considerable power of resuscitation left in any variety 

 of potatoes. 



6. Fine flavor. Most varieties of seedling potatoes, after their fourth year, 

 will be found eatable at least in a tolerable degree when properly ripened. In- 

 deed, I do not trouble myself on this point. If the other qualities contemplated 

 in this paper are secured, eatable qualities are pretty sure to be developed in due 

 time. It is true, however, from causes which are to me inexplicable, that some 

 potatoes, like some apples, even with the same degree of health and maturity, are 

 superior to others for the table. The Carter and Winter Pink Eye are standing 

 illustrations of this fact. In partial explanation of this fact, it may be remarked 

 that most varieties increase in edible qualities with age. 



7. Early maturity. Potatoes, in order to be healthful, should usually mature 

 by the close of the ordinary season of growth. The potato, as a mountain tropi- 

 cal plant, is capable of growing in cooler weather than any other tropical except 

 the Nasturtian. When hardy varieties, on the approach of the cold nights and 

 foggy mornings of autumn, are in a state of rapid growth, and are actually ex- 

 tending their branches and forming new leaves, their growth is never healthful. 

 This is the reason why very late planted crops and sorts, that at least are of late 

 maturity, are less healthful than earlier sorts. The same thing is true of corn, 

 melons, tomatoes, and even oats, and many other things. But when, on the 

 approach of the weather just described, the potato exhibits vines of finished 

 growth, though in a green condition, the tubers will continue to increase until the 

 vines are entirely dry, and will mature healthfully. The reason is obvious. The 

 elaborated material, stored up in the vine ready to be absorbed, was prepared in 

 good weather. Beyond this, it may be observed that if potatoes, not eminently 

 hardy, are cultivated in uncongenial seasons (such as exhibit severe and sudden 

 changes, or hot and damp intensities), such potatoes will be likely to be diseased. 

 First. If such adverse weather came very early — say late in June and early in 

 July- — before even early sorts have gained the full expansion of their foliage, then 

 such early sorts will exhibit diseased foliage, and probably diseased tubers also. 

 Meanwhile, however, late varieties, which are far from having made the utmost 

 expansion of their foliage, will escape, or, at most, will suffer but a little injury of 

 foliage. Secondly. If, on the other hand, such morbid weather occur late in the 

 season — say in the month of August — the early sorts being already nearly ripe, will 

 escape disease, while the late ones will quite certainly be injured, if not very hardy 

 sorts. So, also, as already noticed, any sort not exceedingly hardy, is liable to 

 disease in the cool, damp weather of late autumn. These remarks will explain 

 what was considered an inexplicable fact in the early history of potato disease, 

 viz : that in some years early sorts, and in others late sorts, were most exposed to 

 disease. 



There are many other considerations of importance in the culture of seedling 



