T4 The Garden. 



those to whicli the preference is given in IsTew York may ba 

 considered inferior in Pennsylvania, and worthless in Georgia. 

 Select for planting those varieties which experience has decided 

 to be best adapted to your soil and climate, and to combine 

 the various qualities required for table use. 



In a cold, moist climate the potato thrives best in a light 

 but rich loam. In a dry, hot climate a heavy loam is prefer- 

 able, excejDt for the earliest crop. Vegetable manure is best 

 for the potato. Ashes and, where the soil needs it, lime, may 

 be added with advantage, but, in garden culture, animal ma- 

 nures should, so far as possible, be avoided, as their use tends 

 to make the tubers moist and waxy. The manure should be 

 well rotted, and thoroughly mixed with the soil. Where you 

 can not get sufficient manure of the right kind to properly 

 enrich the whole soil, you may scatter it into the driU or hill 

 to the thickness of three or four inches. 



In garden culture, plant in drills made with the plow or the 

 hoe, fl'om eighteen to twenty-four inches apart (some varieties 

 requiring more room than others), placing the sets about nine 

 or ten inches apart in the drills. Cover to the depth of from 

 four to six inches, according to the texture .and condition of 

 the soil — a heavy, moist soil requiring less depth of covering 

 than a light and dry one. 



In reference to the sets or seed, many and contradictory 

 opinions prevail. Some contend that the largest-sized potatoes 

 alone should be used for planting; others prefer a medium 

 size ; while many use those which are too small for the table. 

 Some plant them whole, while others divide them, making 

 from two to eight sets from each. Even scooped-out eyes 

 have had their advocates. We have no room in this little 

 work to advance arguments or adduce evidence, and must be 

 content to give our opinion (as indicated by the mode pursued 

 in our own garden), which, however, we believe to be based 

 on sound theory and supported by general experience. We 

 choose for planting medium sized^ fully matured^ and every 

 way sound and perfect tuhers — such as we would select for the 



