98 Cultivation of Arable Land. Potatoes* Sets proper for. 



He adds, however, that tc it is to be obferved, that too many as well as too few 

 ftems are unfavourable to the prevalence of fibres, and to the luxuriance of the 

 leaves.&quot; Jt is therefore concluded, that perhaps pieces about two ounces in weight 

 are the inoft proper for being planted, and whole potatoes from that weight to one 

 ounce ; thefe, fays he, may be called large pieces and fmali potatoes ; and from 

 them, it is probable, there will iffiie a fufficient number of ftems to produce as rna- 

 ny roots as the immediately furrounding earth can bring to perfection. To pro 

 duce more, he thinks, would make the roots fmall ; to produce fewer, would give 

 a lefs quantity of root from the acre. 



On thefe accounts,therefore, as well as from large whole potatoes, and large 

 cuttings, confuming fo much feed, it is evident that they can feldom be employed 

 with advantage, efpecially as the refult of experiment has fhewn that fuch whole 

 potatoes as are moderate in fize, and fuch cuttings as are not too large, are general 

 ly capable of producing the bed and moft abundant crops.* 



It is ncceffary, however, where cuttings are made ufe of, to take care that they 

 contain a fufficient proportion of matter about the eyes or root-buds } to afford nou- 

 rifhment and fupport to the plant during the procefs of germination, and until it 

 be perfectly eftablifhed in the foil. 



On the principle of faving feed in fcarce and dear feafons, it has been advifed 

 by fome to have recourfe to the fhoots,| and, by others,:]: to the eyes only ; but 

 the ufe of thefe, except under fuch circumftances, is liable to many objections. 

 Where the moots are employed, the crops are found to be confiderably more 

 backward in becoming ripe, confequently more expofcd to the danger of cold 

 winds and frofts about the period of their being taken up ; befidcs, from their be 

 ing more tender than fets taken from the cuttings of potatoes, they cannot be put 

 into the ground at fo early a period. But the moft material objection is, in many 

 of the plants being foweak and imperfect in their growth, as to afford little or no 

 produce. Where the plough is made ufe of in planting them, there may likewife 

 be danger of their being injured by the trampling of the horfes, except great care 

 be taken to prevent it. 



Where the eye or root-bud of the potatoe is employed as feed, it is ufually cut 

 out of it by afcoop or implement contrived for the purpofe, to the thicknefs of 

 about half a crown. Different implements for effecting this purpofe have been 

 contrived, which may be feen in Plate XXIII. Figs. loand u. But though this 

 mode of fets is faid to have been made ufe of with fuccefs by fome cultiva- 



* Bath Papers, vol. IX. i Maunfell, in Tranfaftions of Dublin Society, vol. II. 1759. 



J Stewart, in ibid. 



