824 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 6 



the soil. The pushing of the eyes affords a pretty 

 correct guide as respects the time when a potato 

 is in season, and when it outfht to be planted. 

 Il'during the winter, the tubers be kept in a dry 

 cave or pit, where tlio utmost deirree of equal)le 

 cold can be maintained, consistent with ilie excki- 

 sion of actual frowt, the finality and (lavor will 

 remain more |)ure than when they are covered by 

 any moist or li'.rnientablc material whatsoever. 

 If, under this simple, unexciting treatment, any 

 variety protrude its eyes, that variety is not a 

 keeper. This is the only complaint which can be 

 advanced against that truly excellent, and widely 

 cultivated potato — 



The Early Shaw. — Its skin {teftta) is of pale 

 butr, covered with a rouah, nissety membrane, 

 and herein it dil^Iers horn the Champinn. Both of 

 these capita! varieties possess the delect: or vice of 

 blossoming and fruiting copiously; yet they are 

 too finely-flavoured lo be rejected.' In all countries 

 there are kidneys — red, white, or mottled, which 

 possess qualities adapted to soil and atmosphere ; 

 but with the exception of Mr. Knishi's crossed 

 seedlings (of which the Bownton yam is a line 

 epecmien), I know of none that cast the blossom- 

 huds ere the flowers expand. 



All these medium and long keepers are furnish- 

 ed with a number of eyes, distributed over the 

 greater pari of the surface, yet abounding most at 

 that end which is opposite to the point where 

 the organic process, or funis entered, which sup- 

 plied the tuber with nutriment derived from the 

 parent stem. The end where the eyes are chiefly 

 congregated, is termed the rose, or crown, while 

 that which was connected with the parent, is 

 termed the root-end. Many persons reject the 

 former, believing that it produces too much haulm. 

 But the fact is, Uiat as in the shoot of a tree, ifone 

 or two good buds break, they push on, leavinij the 

 inferior buds silent and unexnited. Thus, reject- 

 ting the root end, it is advantageous to cut a large 

 potato that abounds with eyei^, into sets, to com- 

 prise not fewer than two, nor more than three 

 eyes j and in cutting, to distribute the crown eyes 

 fairly, as may be, among other eyes situated be- 

 low them, by making the cuts in a diafjonal direc- 

 tion. I know, by experience, that Mr. Knight 

 acted upon sound and secure principles, when he 

 recommended the planting of entire tubers, be- 

 cause he knew well that an ample yield might be 

 assured, one or more of the eyes of each being 

 certain to break. JMoreover, in the event of thai 

 shoot or shoots being cut oft" by frost, other eyes, 

 till then inactive, would be ready to produce suc- 

 cessional shoots. 



Two lixcts of importance in physiologv, now 

 present themselves 'o our nuiice : "/7rs;,"AII the 

 eyes of entire potatoes do not push at onetime, 

 therefore it is a mistake to suppose, that a plot 

 becomes crowded by useless liauhii, if the pota- 

 toes be planted whole, y/gain, persons have im-j, 

 agined, that weakness of the rooi is occasioned by 

 the destructive action of frost upon the earliest 

 shoots ; this also is a nfiistaken notion, /or, if any 

 <eyes remain unexcited in the tuber under ground, 

 the loss of one shoot is speedily supplied by the 

 substitution of another. Time indeed may, to a 

 certain extent, be sacrificed, but that is all. Of 

 this any one may convince hi7nself, by endeavor- 

 ing to exterminate a straggling potato; he may 

 ^locj or pull off the first ehoots, and think his 



ground cleared of the intruder; but in a week or 

 two, the spot will be again occupied, and it will 

 be perceived, that nothing short of the complete 

 removal of the tuber can prove etiectual. Ifsefs, 

 with one or two eyes, have been planted, and 

 have sent up all their shoots, then the destruction 

 by frost may prove liital ; but it may happen, that 

 a shoot shall appear to be killed to the ground, 

 and yet produce a fruitful plant, ihouchlate in the 

 season, from embryo eyes seated around the stem, 

 near its point of emersion fiom the potato. 



Since it appears a demonstrable fact, that ivhole 

 potatoes rarely devclope all their eyes, it becomes a 

 question of economy, whether it be not better to 

 plant cut sets of the keeping varieties. Many 

 persons cannot spare a lari^e stock for seed ; and 

 in that case, it will be prudent to employ sets, with 

 two or three eyes, taking especial precaution to 

 guard the plants from late frosts, and promoting 

 the utmost activity of vegetation, by a wise sys- 

 tem of culture; the general principles of which 

 are found in the extracts before given, from the 

 letters of Mr. Knigbt. 



These principles refer chiefly to the influence of 

 light up onihe foliage, and it certainly is a fact, that 

 by making the rows in the direction of north and 

 south, the sun at mid-day shines along the entire 

 line, exerting his greatest power of attraction, in 

 a way which tends to retain the upright position 

 of the haulm. But there are other considerations 

 which reliir to soil and nutriment, and these must 

 be always kept in sight. 



The texture of the soil should be naturally free^ 

 if possible ; but as the desirable medium is not al- 

 ways at command, it will be prudent to set up heavy 

 land in ridges, during the autumn, to expose a 

 great surface to the frost. The manure required 

 sliould be introduced at the same time, with a 

 quantity of seacoal ashes, if obtainable. Sand, 

 even in excess, will frequently fail to meliorate 

 heavy, binding earih ; but ashes, which contain a 

 lar<ie proportion of finely divided silex, some red 

 oxide ofiron,and a little alkali, produce the happiest 

 effects. In alluding to this autumnal preparation, 

 I have a double object in view, dependent upon 

 the habits of the potato. The plant affects a light 

 and moderately enriched soil, wherein its fibrous 

 roots, and tuber-bearing processes may wander 

 laterally, but not deeply ; therefore, whether the 

 plough or spade be used, the manure ought to be 

 blended with the earth prior to its being thrown 

 into ridges, that the whole mass may be mellowed 

 by the winter's exposure. Six inches of well labo- 

 rated earth, over a more solid subsoil, is amply 

 sufficient for the play of the roots, conse(juently, 

 the ridges ought to be raised to the height of 

 twelve inches. After the winter, the soil cannot 

 be too much broken down, nor the manure too inU- 

 mately incorporated with it; hut for these purpo- 

 ses a dry season should be chosen, otherwise the 

 labor of" the previous operations will be thrown 

 away, and the main object defeated. I believe 

 that the quality of potatoes is much injured by 

 strong recent manure. Autumnal preparation 

 effects every purpose ; the manure is efaborated, 

 but not, dispersed ; it loses rankness, but is brought 

 to the condition of"what is fanciflilly called humus, 

 a hydro-carbonous substance, brought to a con- 

 dition which fits it to supply vegetable aliment 

 when exposed to the decomposing stimulus of 

 the vital principle. Sands, however, ought pot 



