BLOSSOM OF THE JARGONELLE PEAR 5 
the middle of February the early seed potatoes 
are taken from the store heap, and, being selec- 
ted as nearly as possible of one size, are placed 
in single layers on the floor or shelves of some 
warm room, with a covering of damp saw dust 
about one inch in thickness. In a month or 
five weeks they will have put forth stiff sprouts 
of an inch or two in length with very delicate 
roots attached to them. A dry day is then se- 
lected to level the ground, and, small drills 
being made about six inches deep, they are filled 
to the extent of about one half their depth with 
rotten horse dung, the young roots of the pota- 
toes being placed with great care upon its sur- 
face, and lightly covered up with soil extending 
an inch or two above the tops of the sprouts. 
To protect the growth of these early potatoes 
it had always been the custom when frost was 
expected to cover them with mats or sheets 
spread closely upon the ground. 
On the 28th of April, 1829, we had a severe 
frosty night, and on the following day the gar- 
deners found that wherever the mats had been 
in contact with the soil the potatoe sprouts 
were frozen, and in many instances at nearly an 
inch below the surface. 
