12 Cultivation of the Potatoe. 



When circumstances are otherwise favorable, very strong 

 plants are often obtained by setting mere cuttings of potatoes 

 containing a single eye ; or, even the eye by itself. But on 

 heavy land, which has not been well pulverized, as well as 

 on a sandy soil, there is great danger of failure, if, after 

 setting, or during germination, the weather should be unfa- 

 vorable for the formation of the plant. To ensure success, 

 this plant must, by means of its feeble roots, immediately 

 seek for nourishment in the soil. It must not encounter a 

 hard piece of ground : for, as it derives no nourishment from 

 the maternal plant, it would then dry up and perish. I 

 therefore abandon this method altogether, although I former- 

 ly recommended it ; it succeeds very well in gardens, but is 

 very uncertain for potatoe crops grown in the open field. 



There will always be a difference of opinion touching the 

 expediency of setting potatoes close together, or far apart ; 

 for the decision of this matter depends upon adventitious cir- 

 cumstances ; but repeated trials accurately described, seem to 

 show that the quantity of produce is, to a considerable ex- 

 tent, in proportion to that of the sets. The practical results 

 of these trials are as follows : 



1. The amount of net produce, deduction being made for 

 the quantity of potatoes used for setting, bears a tolerably ex- 

 act proportion to the latter quantity, that is to say, that 

 one who sets a larger quantity of tubers, will usually obtain a 

 more abundant crop than one who sets a smaller quantity. 



2. Fine large tubers produce not only larger potatoes, but 

 also a greater number of them. 



3. The degeneracy often observed in potatoes, apparently 

 results from the use of unhealthy plants for setting. 



4. Small tubers, and those which are destitute of buds, 

 cannot by any means be recommended for setting. 



5. When potatoes of medium quality are planted, it is bet- 

 ter to set them whole ; but when the tubers are very large* 



