56 THE POTATO. 



vinery or peach-house that was shut up for starting. We 

 have seen the tubers covered with light soil; but they are 

 better laid on the ground, as when covered they make 

 roots too freely. The shoots (Fig. 4) should be taken off 

 when they are about two and a-half inches long. It is a 

 mistake to take them too soon. Potted singly, in three- 

 inch or four-inch pots (Fig. 5) they will soon make a new 

 start, and should be removed to a cooler house or a pit, 

 before they begin to draw up. It should be added that the 

 shoots must be taken off quite close to the tubers; this 

 ensures a greater number of roots starting from the stem, 

 and may make some difference in the number of tubers 

 that will be produced from the roots. The stock tubers 

 will soon start again, and a good many cuttings may be 

 had from each one before planting time. A great point is 

 to avoid getting the shoots drawn up weakly ; so, if there 

 is any sign of this, they may be removed to a cooler posi- 

 tion or to where they can get more light. After they are 

 potted they require a little care in watering, as the roots 

 must be kept perfectly healthy. Those started early may 

 require larger pots. 



By Cut Tubers. This is a method often adopted in 

 the case of large tubers used as " sets." It is, however, 

 far wiser to use medium-sized whole sets than to cut 

 larger ones. In the first place, it is wasteful to use tubers 

 as ' ' sets ' ' that are fit for food ; and secondly, the resultant 

 yield is never so good from cut as whole sets. These re- 

 marks apply to English potatoes. In Scotland cut tubers 

 have been found to do as well as whole tubers. Still, if a 

 grower has plenty of " ware " tubers that he cannot con- 

 sume or dispose of, and medium-sized whole " sets " are 

 scarce, there is no reason why he should not divide the 

 large tubers into two or more portions. Each portion 

 should contain at least two " eyes," in case one should get 

 injured. The cutting should be done just before planting, 

 and the wounded surfaces immediately rubbed in pow- 

 dered lime to seal up the cells and prevent loss of sap. 



