Cli. XXII.] ox POTATOES. 2f5 



they were buried a foot below llie surface of tlic soil. Mr. Jessop's pota- 

 toes were only five inches deep, and were not planted till the beginning of 

 April ; consequently, he lost seven inches in depth : a most important fact, 

 and about five weeks of the growing season. Mrs. Medley, on the other 

 hand, did not lose more than four inches of soil, her potatoes having been 

 buried eight inches deep ; but she lost nearly three months of the growing 

 season. It is, however, worthy of remark, that notwithstanding this great 

 disadvantage, her crop exceeded that of Mr. Jessop by 1 ton 16cwt. 54 lbs. 

 net; from which it may be concluded that the greater depth at which hers 

 were buried, more than compensated for the loss of time in planting*. 



" Mr. Knight also planted in his garden some tubers of a variety of 

 potato of very early habits, but possessing more vigour of growth 

 than is usually seen in such varieties. The soil in which they were 

 planted was in good condition, but not richer than the soils of gar- 

 dens usually are, and the manure which it received consisted chiefly 

 of decayed oak leaves. The tubers were planted nine inches in the 

 soil, and the mould was afterwards raised three inches higher in ridges, 

 to guard the young plants from frost. The produce was at the rate 

 of 34 tons 9 cwt. per acre; and Mr. Knight is of opinion that still 

 larger crops may be obtainedf." 

 From the foregoing facts it has been assumed by the Society, "that, 

 in order to acquire the greatest jiossible weight of potatoes per acre, it is 

 necessary that large, heavy, sound tubers should be employed ; and that 

 the space allowed for the growth of each plant should be as nearly as 

 possible such as it would naturally occupy if suffered to spread freely on 

 all soils without interruption ; that this space will vary according to the 

 habits of particular varieties, and can only be determined by accurate expe- 

 riments ; and that too much, and too little room, are alike injurious to 

 productiveness. Finally, that it is quite practicable to double the crops 

 that are usually obtained." 



In the previous part of these observations we cordially agree, and we 

 think it very probable that crops may be increased by attention to the rules 

 there laid down. We however doubt the possibility of their being doubled 

 in the ordinary course of culture by any known improvement in its process ; 

 for the farmers in the neighbourhood of large towns, which afford both high 

 prices for the produce and abundant supplies of manure, and who are thus 

 not wanting in the incentives to good cultivation, have not yet found means 

 to raise their produce to anything like that extent. The instances stated 

 would indeed lead to that conclusion : but it must be recollected that they 

 are garden experiments ; and men who work upon a large scale justly look 

 upon such trials with some degree of scepticism. 



MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE PLANTS. 



It has been asserted, on the authority of Sir John Sinclair, that the pluck- 

 in(] of the flowers cnmres a greater weight of crop ; and Mr. Knight says, 

 " it has been proved by many other persons, as well as by himself, that if the 

 blossoms of a potato plant be picked off as soon as they become visible, the 

 quantity of potatoes will be considerably increased J." This, however, is con- 

 tradicted by the Rev. Mr. Campbell, who carefully deprived alternate rows of 

 sets cut from large roots, planted 12 inches asunder, in drills 2^ feet wide, of 



* Trans, of the Hort. Soc, 2n(l Sor. vol. i. arf. G4. 

 f Trans, of the Hort. Soc, 2m\ Ser. vol. i. p. 417. i Ibid. p. 96. 



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