232 ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO. 



XXIV. — Remarks on the Cidtivatio?i of the Potato. By- 

 James Hutchison. 



(Communicated September 14, 1852.) 



Since the commencement of the disease in 1846 I have grown 

 the potato in various soils and situations in three different coun- 

 ties, viz. Brecknock, Hereford, and Sussex. That the potato 

 should liave become diseased is not wonderful when the general 

 mode of cultivation in former times is considered. When taken 

 up in the autumn they were generally put into large pits, where 

 they underwent a process of fermentation, which to a certain 

 extent injured the tubers. The usual practice with farmers was 

 to keep their potatoes in such pits till about the beginning of 

 May. By this time they had made shoots about six inches long. 

 Those shoots were pulled off and the potatoes ])lanted. Tlie tuber 

 was thus injured by fermentation, exhausted by growth in the 

 pit, and not planted until a late period of the season. It is true 

 that means were used to accelerate its growth by the force of 

 stinuilating manures ; but, if we may judge from the experience 

 of the last few years, such manures have only hastened the pro- 

 gress of its decay. 



The method I have adopted is directly the contrary. I keep 

 my potatoes cool and dry in winter. I plant early, so as to give 

 the plant all the advantages which a cold and variable climate 

 can afford. With regard to manure, I have taken a hint from 

 the method which has been so successfully pursued with regard 

 to other exotics which have been acclimatized. I prefer a mo- 

 derately poor soil to one that has been enriched by the addition 

 of strong manures. 



There is another point worthy of consideration, although 

 farmers seem slow in adopting it. Everything should be done 

 that can by means of draining and deep working to raise the 

 temperature of the land intended for the growth of potatoes. To 

 the intelligent reader this will appear self-evident. But I have 

 met with persons who were prejudiced against both draining and 

 deep working. The opinion which such persons maintain is, that 

 the former won't pay the expense, and the latter they have found 

 to do more harm than good. It must be borne in mind that 

 those operations should be performed with judgment. One man 

 will drain a field at a great expense, and not do it properly after 

 all ; another will do it for half the cost of the former, and finish 

 the work in a very efficient manner. With regard to trenching, 

 it is not necessary to bring a foot or two of exhausted soil or 

 stiff clay to the surface all at once. Let the soil be trenched two 

 spades deep, if not trenched before, and throw the first spading 



