POT 



476 



POT 



and layers of the stalks, may be em- 

 ployed. New varieties are raised from 

 seed. 



Planting in the open ground must be 

 done with reference to the latitude in 



earth near the fire. If the earth is kept 

 moist, the crown-eye will be in a state 

 of vegetation in five or six days. 



To obtain early crops, where tubers 

 are rapidly formed, large sets must be 



which we live — in Pennsylvania, for in- employed. In these one or two eyes 

 stance, those intended for the earliest j at most should be allowed to remain. 



crop may be planted in March; for a 

 succession, in April ; and for the main 

 winter supply, in May. Formerly large 

 crops were produced from plantations 

 made in July, but latterly they have not 

 succeeded. 



Sets. — The next point for considera- 



If the sets are placed with their lead- 

 ing buds upwards, few and very strong 

 early stems will be produced; but, if 

 the position is reversed, many weak 

 and later shoots will arise, and not only 

 the earliness but the quality of the pro- 

 duce be depreciated. For the earliest 



tion is the preparation of the sets. Some crops there are likewise several modes 

 gardeners recommend the largest pota- ! of assisting the forward vegetation of 

 toes to be planted whole; others, that I the sets. These should be prepared 

 they be sliced into pieces containing by removing every eye but one or two ; 

 two or three eyes ; a third set, to cut [ and being placed" in a layer in a wojm 

 the large tubers directly in half; a room, where air and light can be freely 

 fourth, the employment of the shoots admitted, with a covering of straw, 

 only, which are thrown out if potatoes ! they soon emit shoots, which must be 



are kept in a warm damp situation ; and 

 a fifth, that merely the parings be em- 

 ployed. Cuttings of the stalks, five or 

 six inches in length, or rooted suckers, 

 will be productive, if planted during 

 showery weather, in May or June ; and 

 during this last month, or early in July, 

 it may be propagated by layers, which 

 are formed by pegging down the young 

 stalks when about twelve inches long, 

 they being covered three inches thick 

 with mould at a joint. These three 

 last modes are practised more fro 



strengthened by exposure to the air and 

 light as much as possible, by taking off 

 the cover without injuring them. Dur- 

 ing cold weather, and at night, it must 

 always be removed : the leaves soon 

 become green and tolerably hardy. In 

 early spring they are planted out, the 

 leaves being left just above the surface, 

 and a covering of litter afforded every 

 night until the danger of frost is passed. 

 The only modification of this plan 

 that is adopted in Cheshire, where they 

 are celebrated for the early production 



curiosity than utility, whilst at the same j of potatoes, is, that they employ chaff 

 time, none of the first five mentioned ! or sand for a covering instead of straw, 

 plans can be individually followed to Planting. — In garden culture the 

 advantage without modification. For ' most preferable mode of inserting them 



the main crops, it is evident from ex- 

 periment that moderate sized whole 

 potatoes are the best, from which all 

 but two eyes have been removed ; but 

 especially having the crown, which is a 

 congery of small eyes, first removed ; 



is with the dibble, in rows; for the 

 early crops twelve inches apart each 

 way, and for the main ones eighteen 

 inches. The sets should be placed six 

 inches beneath the surface. The po- 

 tato-dibble is the best instrument that 



for from these proceed little spindled can be employed ; the earth being after 



stalks, which are comparatively worth 

 less, and injure the main stem. 



For the early crops almost the very 

 contrary to the above is the most ad- 

 vantageous to be practised. The set 

 should have the crown-eye, which is 

 one growing in the centre of the con 



wards raked or struck in with the spade, 

 and the soil not trampled u[)on but 

 planted as sufficient is dug for receiving 

 a row. 



The compartment may be laid out 

 level and undivided if the soil is light ; 

 but if heavy soil is necessarily em- 



gery of small ones above mentioned, ! ployed, it is best disposed in beds six 

 preserved. Some potatoes have two or eight feet wide. If the staple of the 

 such eyes, but the generality only one. ' soil be good throughout, the alleys may 

 This is always the most prompt to ve- ] be two feet wide and dug deep, other- 

 getate, and if not known by this de- wise they must be made broader, and 

 scription, may be evinced by placing only one spit taken out, the earth re- 

 iwo or three potatoes in a pan of moist ' moved being employed to raise the 



