SOL 



SOL 



dug out a spade deep, casting the earth over the 

 sets about three or four inches thick ; or the 

 alleys may be first dug out to raise the beds, and 

 the sets then planted with a dibble in the com- 

 mon method : thus by either of these methods, 

 in wet ground) the alleys bping sunk, and the 

 beds raised, the allevs dram otF the redundant 

 moisture, which might rot the sets before they 

 begin to sprout. 



This method of planting is sometimes per- 

 formed on grass sward, marking out beds as 

 above, with alleys between of proportionable 

 width ; then, without digging the beds, the po- 

 tatoesets are placed immediately upon the sward, 

 at proper distances; the alleys being then dug and 

 the spits turned grass side downward upon the 

 beds over the sets, covering them the proper 

 depth as above, in which, if any additional depth 

 is wanted, it may be supplied from the under 

 earth of the alleys; and ihus the sets being be- 

 tween two swards, grow, and often are pro- 

 ductive of very good crops if permitted to have 

 full growth. 



In the after- management where weeds begin 

 to overrun the ground, two or three hoeings 

 should be given to kill them and loosen the sur- 

 face of the soil; and where the plants have 

 some growth, some hoe up a ridge of earth close 

 to each side of every row of plants in the first 

 or second hoeing, to strengthen their growth 

 more effectually, and render them more prolific, 

 as the bottom of the stalks so landed up gene- 

 rally emitting roots in the earth that become 

 productive of potatoes the same as the principal 

 roots. 



In October, when the potatoes are full grown, 

 they should be wholly taken up before they are 

 attacked by frost, and deposited in some dry 

 apartment for keeping : some may however be 

 taken up before for occasional use : this business 

 is usually performed by a three-pronged fork. 



When it is intended to raise new varieties from 

 seed, some of the first-flowering plants should 

 be marked, the seed should be gathered iir au- 

 tumn when full ripe, and in the March or April 

 following sown in some light soil, in an open 

 situation, in shallow drills, a toot asunder; and 

 when the plants come up, they should be kept 

 clear from weeds till autumn, when, about the 

 end of October or beginning of November, the 

 roots may be taken up, selecting the finest and 

 largest, which preserve in sand till spring ; then 

 plant them in the common way, and by autumn 

 following thrv will have made proper increase, 

 and attain full perfection; when their properties 

 must be determined. 



SOLDANKLLA, a genus containing a plant 

 of the low herbaceous perennial kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Pentandria 

 Monogynia, and ra::ks in the natural order of 

 Pi rice. 



The characters are : that the calyx is a five- 

 parted perianth, straight, permanent ; segments 

 lanceolate: the corolla one-petailed, bell-s'napeu, 

 widening gradually, straight : mouth torn into 

 many clefts, acute : the. stamina have five awi- 

 shaped filaments anthers simple, sagittate : the 

 pistillum is a roundish germ: style filiform, 

 K ngth of the corolla, permanent: stigma simple: 

 the pericarpium is an oblong capsule, round, 

 obliquely striated, one-celled, opening by a 

 many-toothed top : the seeds numerous, acumi- 

 nate, very small : the receptacle columnar, free. 



The species is S. alpina, A pine Soldauella. 



It has a perennial fibrous root: the leaves al- 

 most kidney-shaped, about three quarters of an 

 inch over each way, of a dark green colour, on 

 long footstalks : among these arises a naked 

 flowerslalk or scape, about four inches long, 

 sustaining at ihe top two small open bell-shaped 

 flowers, with I he brim cut into manv tine seg- 

 ments like a fringe : the most frequent colour in 

 blue, but it is sometimes snow-while. It Sow- 

 ers in April, and the seeds ripen in July. It is a 

 native of the Alps. 



There is a variety which has all the parts 

 smaller ; the petiole is shorter and more :-lenfier, 

 and the leaves are not so much rounded, but 

 gradually widen from the petiole. 



Culture. — This is increased by parting the 

 roots in the autumn about September, planting 

 them in pots or in a cool shady situation, where 

 the soil is of a moist loamy kind, bemsj fre- 

 quently watered when the season is dry", and 

 kept from the sun. 



The seeds soon after they become ripe mav also 

 be sown in pots or boxes filled with the above 

 sort of mould, being placed in the shade, and 

 frequently watered. The plants rise in the 

 spring, and in the autumn following should he 

 removed into separate pots, to have the protec- 

 tion of a frame in winter. They succeed best 

 in a northern aspect. 



These plants afford variety among other pot- 

 ted plants. 



SOLDIF.R-WOOD. See Mimosa. 



SOLIDAGO, a genus containing plants of 

 the tall, herbaceous, flowering, perennial kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Syngeuesia 

 Polygamia Superfluiti, and ranks in the natural 

 order ot Composilee Di^coidece. 



The characters are: that the calyx is oblong, 

 imbricate, common: scales oblong, narrow, 

 acuminate, straight, converging : the corolla 

 is compound radiate: cprollets hermaphrodite 

 tubular, very man}', in the d,wk : — feiiaie ligw- 



