PLANTING OF THE POTATO. 127 



Aug. 10 Ibs., in Sept. 14 J, in Oct. 14f, in Nov. 17, in March 17, in 

 April 13, and in May 10 Ibs. From the spirit of potatoes a volatile 

 oil is produced ; and an extract from the stalks and leaves is said to 

 possess narcotic properties. Potatoes are less nutritive to cattle in a 

 raw state than when boiled 5 and they are then laxative and diuretic 

 to man. 



The rows of potatoes should point north and south, as they thereby 

 receive a greater breadth and duration of solar light. This is also to 

 be regarded in cultivating other plants. Mr. Knight recommends the 

 planting of whole large potatoes 4 or 5 inches apart, with the crown 

 end upwards. He thinks a luxuriant haulm or herbage is no evidence 

 of a diminished tuber, except when it falls or becomes matted, thereby 

 losing the influence of the sun. Outside and single rows produce 

 far the largest crops, owing chiefly to their greater exposure to air and 

 light. This has proved equivalent to 58 tons to the acre. Sets or 

 eyes, when planted, should be cut from the crown end or the middle of 

 the tuber, never from the lower or root end and they may be planted 

 nearer together than whole tubers. Close planting in single rows is 

 recommended. 



Potatoes produce 1st, cottony flax, from the stalk, 2d, sugar from the 

 roots, 3d, potass by combustion, 4th, vinegar from the apples, 5th, soap, 

 or a substitute from the tubercles for bleaching, 6th, spirits by distila- 

 tion, and lastly, when cooked by steam, the most farinaceous and eco- 

 nomical food of all vegetables. We have described its starch and its 

 employment in bread elsewhere. When given to animals they should 

 be cut in pieces or boiled, which is far better more nutritive and less 

 dangerous. 



Potatoes renewed from seed. Take the apples when ripe, in Oct. 

 before the frost has hurt them, hang them by the foot stalks in a dry 

 place, so that they will not freeze, till March or April ; mash them, 

 wash the seeds from the pulp and dry them in a sunny place. These 

 will produce full sized roots the 2d season. They are sown in a well 

 prepared bed early in May and transplanted into prepared soil, one or 

 two plants in a hill, when 4 or 5 inches high. The tubers thus raised 

 will differ much from those which bore the apple. Plant one potato 

 of the new variety in a hill so as to keep the varieties and the pro- 

 duct separate. No variety will continue good over 15 years. The 

 soil should be light and sandy, though rich, for dry and mealy potatoes ; 

 not greatly manured. 



The more the soil is pulverized the better will be the crop. It 

 should be ploughed deep, as the roots generally grow as low as the 

 soil is stirred. The manure of swine with straw is considered best, 

 as the latter being light, admits air and ferments when the potato most 

 needs it. No crop pays better for good cultivation, though it is often 

 good with little. 



