Cultivation of Early Potatoes. 109 



a more valuable crop than by sowing or transplanting any other 

 vegetable. The great objection to sprouting is the expense and 

 want of convenience ; the former is very trifling, and the latter 

 is generally at hand. Any cattle-shed would answer the pur- 

 pose ; a few rough slabs to form a floor above the cattle, whereon 

 to spread the potatoes, would be quite sufficient. So long as 

 you can keep up the temperature above freezing-point they will 

 not suffer, and this the breath of the cattle would effect. 



With regard to protecting the young plants from frost little 

 here is at present done. A few borders in sheltered places are 

 covered with straw screens ; posts are driven into the ground, on 

 which are nailed strips of wood to support the screen. Some 

 few use calico instead of straw ; they are much lighter and 

 handier to lift off and on, but they are difficult to manage in a 

 high wind. We have seen a much better plan. A friend 'of 

 ours has contrived a kind of sheet or sail, made of calico, which 

 will furl and unfurl ad libitum. It is attached by rings to wires 

 fastened to poles driven into the ground, and upon these wires it 

 is made to run up and down by means of a cord and pulley. 

 This plan has been proved to be efficient to repel this spring's 

 frosts, which have been unusually severe, and therefore there is 

 little doubt but that the experiment will be enlarged upon. 



In conclusion, we must caution our readers against the pur- 

 chase of seed. We had almost said a potato is frequently not a 

 potato, but we may safely say a kidney is not necessarily a lemon 

 kidney. Of kidney potatoes there is an endless variety : there are 

 the " short-top," the " rough-top," the " Yorkshire " or " winter- 

 kidney," the " walnut-leaf," and the "ash-leaf," &c. And the 

 worst of the matter is, that if you order a load of early kidney 

 potatoes you will, in all probability, get all the varieties. Of 

 course, there are exceptions to this rule, but we speak generally, 

 and, what is more, we speak from experience. Even here, where 

 the best and earliest varieties are grown, it is very difficult to 

 obtain good and unmixed seed. In , fact, you must see them 

 growing ; and, when you see them growing, you must have the 

 eye to discover whether they all have the same kind of leaf and 

 habit of growth, and equal absence of flower. 



Here all early potatoes are included under the general term 

 " lemon kidneys," as in other places they are denominated 

 " ash-leaves." But amongst these " forrart uns," as they call 

 them, there are many varieties. Some have a broad, round, 

 shiny leaf ; this is the true lemon kidney : some have narrow 

 pointed leaves ; others small curly leaves ; whilst a fourth ex- 

 hibits a small rough round leaf. We should, therefore, recom- 

 mend such as are anxious to cultivate the true lemon to obtain 



