44 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



its patch of potatoes. As regards the cultivation of the potato I 

 will say very little, as it is a subject by itself; but potatoes are 

 usually planted in drills by dropping the pieces of the cut tubers 

 about ten or twelve inches apart. 



Cultivation should commence as soon the young plants are 

 fairly above the surface of the ground, and continue until the 

 appearance of the blossoms, when no further attention will be 

 required until harvesting time. At each successive hoeing gather 

 the earth about the plant, adding a little each time for support, 

 and also to develop the side shoots. When the bugs arrive use 

 Paris green ; one or two applications will destroy them. I con- 

 sider the following varieties the best for general cultivation, and 

 in the order named : Beauty of Hebron, Pearly Rose, Clark's 

 No. 1 and Pearl of Savo}'. The Snowflake potato is without doubt 

 one of the mealiest and best, as far as its edible qualities go, but 

 it is such a shy yielder that I cannot recommend it highly, 

 although I have grown it considerably myself. Potatoes have 

 grown very poorly the past season, and the yield has been very 

 small, as they have rotted badly in all parts of New England, and 

 the result is that the}' are very high in price. The potato which 

 yielded the best with me (and I may say that it was entirely free 

 from rot) was Bliss's Triumph, and it is a most excellent eating 

 potato ; but as this is the first year I have grown it I do not know 

 much about it ; 3'et knowing it to be a variety that has been in 

 in the market a long time and is well liked, I think we cannot do 

 better than to grow some of them. I certainly shall do so, for, if I 

 can find a potato that will be free from rot, that is the potato for 

 me to raise. A family of ten persons will consume 50 bushels 

 of potatoes in a 3'ear, and, as a good average yield is 150 bushels 

 per acre, it is necessary that one-third of our garden be devoted 

 to this crop. 



The Radish. The radish will thrive in any good soil, but to 

 be crisp and tender needs to be grown quickly. Sow in drills 

 as soon as the ground is in good working order, and thin out the 

 plants to three inches apart. If a continuous supply is wanted 

 throughout the season, make sowings everj- ten days to two 

 weeks. The B'rench Breakfast and Early Long Scarlet are both 

 excellent sorts. Half a row, planted at intervals, will be found 

 sufficient. 



The Turnip. The turnip is propagated from seed and should 



