POT 



478 



POT 



ered in the neigbourhood of a white- 

 tubered variety, the seedlings, in all 

 probability, will in part resemble both 

 their parents ; but seldom or never does 

 a seedling resemble exactly the original 

 stock. At all events, only such should 

 be preserved as are recommended by 

 their superior earliness, size, flavour, or 

 fertility. " 



The early varieties — if planted on 

 little heaps of earth, with a stake in the 

 middle, and when the plants are about 

 four inches hisrh, being secured to the 

 stakes with shreds and nails, and tlie 

 earth washed away from the bases of 

 the stems by means of a strong current 

 of water, so that the fibrous roots only 

 enter the soil — will blossom and perfect 

 seed. 



Forcing. — The season for forcing is 

 from the close of December to the 

 middle of February, in a hot-bed, and 

 at the close of this last month on a 

 warm border, with the temporary shelter 

 of a frame. The hot-bed is only re- 

 quired to produce a moderate heat. 

 The earth should be six inches deep, 

 and the sets planted in rows six or eight 

 apart, as the tubers are not required 

 to be large. The temperature ought 

 never to sink below Go*^, nor rise above 

 80°. 



The rank steam arising from ferment- 

 ing dung is undoubtedly injurious to the 

 roots of potatoes ; and to obviate this 

 they may be planted in narrow beds, 

 and the dung applied in trenches on 

 each side ; or all the earth from an old 

 cucumber or other hot-bed being re- 

 moved, and an inch in depth of tVesh 

 being added, put on the sets, and cover 

 them with four inches of mould. At 

 the end of five days the sides of the old 

 dung may be cut away in an inward 

 slanting direction, about fifteen inches 

 from the perpendicular, and strong lin- 

 ings of hot dung applied. 



If the tubers are desired to be brought 

 to maturity as speedily as possible, in- 

 stead of being planted in the earth of 

 the bed, each set should be placed in a 

 pot about six inches in diameter; but 

 the produce in pots is smaller. But 

 young potatoes may be obtained in the 

 winter, according to the following plan, 

 without forcing : — 



Plant some late kinds, unsprouted, in 

 a dry rich border, in July, and again in i 

 August, in rows two feet apart. They 

 will produce new potatoes in October, I 



and in succession until April, if covered 

 with leaves or straw to exclude frost. 

 If old potatoes are placed in dry earth, 

 in a shed, during August, they will emit 

 young tubers in December. 



Preparation of Sets for forcing. — 

 They should be of the early varieties. 

 To assist their forward vegetation, plant 

 a single potato in each of the pots in- 

 tended for forcing, during January. 

 Then place in the ground, and protect 

 with litter from the frost. This renders 

 them very excitable by heat; and, con- 

 sequently, when plunged in a hot-bed, 

 they vegetate rapidly and generate tu- 

 bers. The seed potatoes are equally 

 assisted, and with less trouble, if placed 

 in a cellar just in contact with each 

 other, and as soon as the germs are 

 four inches long, are removed to the 

 hot-bed. 



Management. — More than one stem 

 should never be allowed, otherwise the 

 tubers are small, and not more nume- 

 rous. 



Water must be given whenever the 

 soil appears dry, and in quantity propor- 

 tionate to the temperature of the air. 

 Linings must be applied as the temper- 

 ature declines; and air admitted as 

 freely as the temperature of the atmo- 

 sphere will allow. Coverings must be 

 afforded with the same regard to tem- 

 perature. 



From six to seven weeks usually 

 elapse between the time of planting and 

 the fitness of the tubers for use. The 

 average produce from a light soil is 

 about five pounds. 



There is another mode of obtaining 

 young potatoes, during the winter, 

 which is much practised on account of 

 its facility; though, being produced 

 without foliage, they are not so fine in 

 flavour, are deficient in farina, and are 

 otherwise inferior. Old potatoes often 

 throw out from their sides young ones, 

 early in the spring ; and of this habit 

 advantage is taken in obtaining them 

 still earlier. Some full-grown and ripe 

 tubers, of the ox noble variety, that 

 have no appearance of vegetating, must 

 be laid alternately with layers of per- 

 fectly dry, rich, vegetable mould, four 

 inches deep, in pans or boxes, until 

 they are filled. These may be placed 

 in a thoroughly dry shed, or on a shelf 

 in the kitchen. If the layers are con- 

 structed in the corner of a shed or cel- 

 lar, the produce will be equally good, 



