An Encyclopedia of Horticulture. 



209 



Potato — continued. 

 blue stripes, on each side, each pair of which meet on 

 the back. The body is sprinkled with minute, black 

 dots. A variety sometimes occurs of a brownish-olive, 

 with the stripes darker. The larvai feed only by night, 

 hiding in the soil by day. Their large size renders them 

 somewhat destructive ; though they are never so common 

 as to endanger the crop. When full-fed, they crawl 

 under ground, and there each forms an earthen cell. In 

 this it turns into a large pupa of a red-brown colour. 

 Some of the motlis may emerge in the late autumn, and 

 hybemate ; but most do not appear till spring. Should 

 it be necessary to reduce the numbers of larva?, they 

 must be sought for at night, by lantern light, on the 

 ravaged plants ; their large size renders them conspicuous. 

 The pupaj are frequently turned up in the fields during 

 Potato harvest. 



Several species of Hemiptera, or Plant - bugs (see 

 Insects), have been recorded by Curtis, in " Farm 

 Insects," as living on Potatoes, boring into the tissues 

 with their long, sharp beaks ; and. by sucking the sap 

 from the green organs where abundant, they greatly 

 weaken the plants. Several of them belong to the group 

 Heyn-iptera Heteropfera. in which the fore wings have the 

 basal half leathery, and the other half membranous. 

 Curtis mentions several, as found by himself, feeding on 

 the Potato crop, all of them belonging to the genus Ltjrius. 

 These insects are green or ochreous, passing into rosy, 

 and are about \m. long. He also describes two species 

 of Prog Hoppers, which belong to the group of Homoptem, 

 which have the wings of uniform texture (itee Prog 

 Hopper). These are also about jin. long. One of these 

 {Eaplenif pictn) is yellow with black spots, and brown 

 clouded markings on the front wings. The other he 

 names B. fyolani, as a new species (G. C. vi. 388), and 

 describes it as lively green, with the tips of the fore 

 wings rusty-brown. The name is noticed in the latest 

 list of British Homopiera as a synonym of Chlorita 

 viridula, Fall. 



Remedies. These Hemiptera undoubtedly do harm 

 when very numerous. Probably, the most effective means 

 of reducing their numbers would be to sweep the rows 

 of Potatoes, every now and then, with a large insect net, 

 removing and destroying the insects caught. Applica- 

 cations to the plants are scarcely required, thougli Paris 

 Green, applied as recommended for the Potato Beetle, 

 would be effective. 



Aphides do so little harm that it is scarcely necessary 

 to refer to them. The only species noted by Buckton, 

 in " British Aphides," as feeding on Potatoes, is A. urfi- 

 cnri<i. Two or three others have also been recorded 

 from tlie Continent. 



Tile insects most hurtful to Potato-plants in the 

 United States of America, and in Canada, are beetles, 

 most of them belonging to the group of Blister Beetles, 

 of the genus Lytta. Five species of this genus have 

 been observed to feed on the leaves and stems, but only 

 as beetles. There seems little reason to fear injury 

 from them on this side of the Atlantic, since their habits 

 do not favour the chances of their being accidentally 

 imported. The same holds good of the Three-lined Leaf 

 Beetle (Lema trili7ieafa), one of the Chnjsomelidce, which 

 lives, as larva and as beetle, on Potatoes ; the larva 

 shelters itself under a coating of its excrements. The 

 famous Colorado Beetle (Donjphom decemlineata) re- 

 quires a longer notice, and this will be found under the 

 heading Potato Beetle. Still another American beetle 

 that injures Potato crops is the Potato-stalk Weevil 

 {Baridiu.-i frinofatus), which does harm only while in the 

 larval state. The larva bores into tlie stems near the 

 base, and eats downwards towards the root, killing the 

 plants. It is white, and legless. The beetle is a dark, 

 long-snouted Weevil, about ^in. long. It does not seem 

 likely to be transported over seas to ns ; nor does there 



Vol. m. 



Potato — continued. 

 seem reason to fear the introduction of the other 

 American insects that injure Potatoes. 



Sorts. Varieties of Potatoes are exceedingly numerous, 

 and new additions are annually made. It is requisite 

 to have a selection of early, second early, and late ones, 

 for maintaining the supply throughout the year. Some 

 few sorts are grown in immense quantities because of 

 their generally good flavour and cropping qualities under 

 varied circumstances ; others — a far larger proportion — are 

 grown for private consumption, on a more limited scale, 

 in gardens, and also by persons who exhibit collections 

 at shows. Soil and locality have an important bearing 

 on the quality and productiveness of different varieties 

 of Potatoes, and the effect on each can only be properly 

 learned by experience. A few good sorts known to 

 succeed should always be depended upon, and new ones 

 tried at first in small quantities, until their respective 

 merits are ascertained. The extent to which any sort 

 will withstand disease, especially in an unfavourable 

 season, is now a material consideration when judging of 

 its suitability for extended cultivation. Subjoined is 

 a limited selection of sorts which are amongst those 

 most approved. 



Kidney-Shaped. Ashleaf, JIv.att's Prolific, a well-known, 

 prolific sort, which follows the old variety in season. Ashle.if, 

 OLD, a very old variety, Imt still one of the best for early .supplies. 

 ASHLE.iF, Veitch's IMPROVED K.4KLY, a very heavy cropper, of 

 handsome appearance, excellent quality, fine flavour, and a ttvst- 

 vate forcer ; quite distinct. Heautv of Hebron-, a heavy crop]ier, 

 and early ; tubers very handsome, smooth in texture, and sli^btly 

 tinged with pink around the eye ; tine for exhiliition. Cosmo- 

 politan, an excellent early white variety, of fine form, very pro- 

 ductive, and of superior table cpiality. Covent Caruen Per- 

 fection, a second early white variety, of medium size and very 

 luandsome shape ; a heavy cropper, and remarkably free from 

 disease ; fine for exhibition. Early Dwarf-top, very small top, 

 early, and fine for forcing. Early Hose, a first early, American 

 variety, of great productivene.ss. Inter.natio.nal Kidney, very 

 handsome in shape; one of the finest exhibition Kidneys. 

 Lapstone, a well-known and good sort, of fine shape, and ex- 

 cellent quality. Magnu.m Bonum, a late, heavy cropper, of robust 

 growth, and very free from disease. Mis.s Fowler, a handsome, 

 late, white variety, seedling from WOODSTOCK Kidney, but much 

 more prolific, and a thorough disease-resister ; top growth strong 

 and robust ; a very heavy cropper ; tubers of moderate size, very 

 even, and of finest table qu.ality. PRINCE Arthur, one of the 

 best main crop Potatoes ; a heavy cropper and excellent keeper ; 

 the flesh is white, and, when boiled, very floury, and of first-class 

 quality. Welford Park Kidney, tubers large, of first-rate 

 table quality, very smooth, with clear, white skin ; one of the 

 finest varieties for exhibition or table use. WOODSTOCK Kidney, 

 a very handsome varietv, of beautiful shape, with very level eyes 

 and r.ather rough skin ; a good cropper, white and mealy when 

 cooked ; fine for exhibition. Wormleighton Seedling, ex- 

 cellent for table use ; a great cropper and good keeper York- 

 shire Hero, a variety of unusual excellence; one of the finest 

 of the Lapstone section ; smooth, handsome tubers of highest 

 quality, and a long keeper, 



Ronnd. Beauty of Kent, a very handsome, second early variety ; 

 the tubers are flattish-oval in shape, and of a rich rosy-pink 

 colour, and keep good till March ; a fine variety for exhibition. 

 Bedfont Prolific, a second early sort, very heavy cropper, of 

 the finest quality, and a handsome exhibition variety. Blanciiard, 

 a fine, large variety, of handsome shape, with clear, white 

 skin, beautifully streaked with purple ; very desirable for exhibi- 

 tion purposes. Daljiaiioy, a second early variety, of excellent 

 quality; one of the best for gener.al use. DUNIUR Regent, a well- 

 known, good late sort, very productive. EARLY Coldstream, a 

 remarkably early ,'tnd prolific variety, of beautiful shape, and very 

 white and floury; fine for forcing. Early Regent, early, 

 productive, and of good flavour. (Irampian, a handsome and 

 distinct, early variety ; skin pinkish-white, flaked with rich 

 rosy-pink round the eyes ; an abundant cropper. M.P., a really 

 excellent white variety, with rather deep eyes ; seedling from 

 Paterson's Victoria, of dwarf, stout growth, the crop remark- 

 able for quantity and evenness, of most excellent size, and the 

 quality all that can be desired ; it is a second early, but re- 

 quires time to ripen for the table. Paterson's Victoria, an ex- 

 cellent sort for general use, large, and very productive. Porter's 

 Excelsior, a remarkably handsome variety, superb for exhi- 

 bition. Radstock Beauty, tubers singularly handsome, and of 

 fine quality ; a robust grower and heavy cropper. Reading Hero, 

 a heavy cropper, of excellent ((uality, and very free from dise!l.se. 

 Reading Russet, a heavy cropping, second early variety, of good 

 quality. Red Emperor, or Main Crop, skin clear light red, 

 very handsome tubers ; fine for exhilntion. Schoolmaster, 

 a very superior main crop variety ; tuljers large, round, of regular 



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