70 The Potatoe Plague. 



which appear to me most in point. The first gives the result 

 of two opposite methods of treating potatoes intended for seed 

 as practised by two intelligent farmers. 



The first farmer has planted the same kind of ash-top kid- 

 ney for more than ten years. The first year or two he took 

 up those intended for seed at the same time as those intended 

 for consumption ; but found that they grew so much during 

 the winter that they were obliged to be sprouted twice, which 

 weakened the set so much as to injure the crop. He then 

 tried the effect of leaving them longer in the ground some- 

 times as much as three months after the plant was ripe. This 

 produced the desired effect of preventing the growth during 

 winter ; but after some years' continuance he found the ger- 

 minating power so much injured that they were a month or 

 more later in coming up than those of Ins neighbors, treated 

 in the ordinary way. In fact, he could scarcely get them to 

 grow at all, and was forced to change his plan. 



The second farmer has grown ash-top kidneys for some 

 years, and finds them better 'and earlier than when he first 

 got them. Is in the habit of planting those he intends for 

 sets after taking up his crop of cabbages, which is at the end 

 of June or beginning of July. He also takes them up before 

 they are ripe ; never finds them fail ; they grow earlier in 

 spring than potatoes not so treated, and make stronger and 

 healthier plants. 



The contrast between these two instances is very complete. 

 TAVO men, living not above two hundred yards from one 

 another, and whose gardens are almost precisely similar, 

 grow the same kind of potatoe in the same seasons. The 

 potatoes of the last named being taken up unripe, improve 

 both in vigor and early maturity, while the first, which are 

 left in the ground till over-ripe, will scarcely grow at all. 



Another case. A farmer in Tawden, near Scarborough, 

 (which some years ago supplied large quantities of potatoes 



