Cultivation of the Potato during Winter. 367 



ance ; the color of the skin intensely dark, and covered with 

 a beautiful bloom. The purple gage, the Messrs. Downing 

 inform us, they think the " most delicious in flavor of all 

 plums :" we have no hesitation in saying it will rank among 

 the very best. No such kind, to our knowledge, has ever 

 been fruited in this vicinity. The Capiaumont pear we 

 showed, agreeable to request, and ascertained that it was the 

 same as is grown about Boston under the same name. 



The Messrs. Downing will please accept our thanks for 

 the information contained in the above letter, and we hope 

 we shall soon have the pleasure of hearing from them again. 



Art. IV. On the Cultivation of the Potato, during the Winter 

 Months. By P. Q. 



Sirs, 



I HERE send you a few remarks on the cultivation of the 

 potato, so as to procure new ones in the months of February, 

 March and April. About the middle of September, I pro^ 

 cure a quantity of sandy loam ; exposing it for some time 

 before the sun, until thoroughly dry, when it ought to be 

 put under cover until wanted. About the same time, I look 

 out for large boxes or barrels ; they ought to be carried to 

 the place intended for the growing of the potatoes, and for 

 this I should prefer a mushroom house, or, in want of that, 

 they will do very well in a dry, dark cellar, or fruit room, 

 providing they be out of danger of frost. After the potatoes 

 have been well ripened, and taken from the field and dried 

 for a fortnight, at least, I pick out as many of the largest of 

 them as I think I may want ; preferring a dry, mealy pota- 

 toe to a wet one. Beginning first with a layer of earth, six 

 inches thick, in the bottoms of my boxes or barrels, then 

 with the whole potatoes, placing them entire upon the earth 

 about twelve inches each way, and so continue with a layer 

 of earth eight inches thick, and a layer of potatoes, till you 

 arrive at the top of each box or barrel. 



Potatoes may be had in this manner any month in the 

 season, by putting in a successive box every three weeks. 

 I have seen the finest ones taken from a box placed in a 

 mushroom house, where there had been a mild, moist heat, 

 kept up by dung. The old potatoes will vanish away with- 

 out putting forth any vines, if kept in the dark, leaving new 



