342 CULTIVATION OF GRASSES, 



Carrots require a light but not a loose soil : they are 

 rather of a delicate nature, suffering both from excess of 

 cold or of heat. 



The potatoe, is universally acknowledged, we derive 

 from America, but from what part is not well ascertained ; 

 for it is remarkable that neither M. Humboldt, nor any 

 other traveller in that country, has met with it in its wild 

 state. Clusius the first botanist who speaks of potatoes, 

 says that they were introduced into Europe by the Span- 

 iards, in 1588. Sir Walter Raleigh brought them from 

 Virginia to England and Ireland, where their cultivation 

 succeeded much better, and they were more liked than 

 on the Continent of Europe ; and it is we English, who 

 have subsequently been the means of introducing a taste 

 for them, into other countries. 



Emily. In Italy the lower classes are still much preju- 

 diced against potatoes, considering them as food fit only 

 for hogs or cattle. 



Mrs. B. There are from one hundred to one hundred 

 and fifty varieties of this plant which differ in color, form, 

 precocity, &/c. Potatoes are usually raised from germs, 

 contained within the tuber, and commonly called eyes 

 these germs contain the rudiments of the young plant, 

 similar to the buds or the branches of a tree. In order 

 to make them sprout, the potatoe must be planted either 

 entire or cut in pieces, leaving an eye in each piece, from 

 which the young plant shoots ; or in case of scarcity, 

 the eye alone may be planted, reserving the fecula or mealy 

 part for food. 



Emily. I thought that the mealy part was a magazine 

 of food for the young plants which shoot from these germs, 

 and was, therefore, necessary to their developement. 



Mrs. B. That is true ; and the plant will shoot with 

 much more vigor if the fecula remain attached to it ; it 

 is not, however, absolutely necessary : for the eye, if plant- 

 ed naked, has the power of absorbing moisture on which it 

 feeds, till it has struck out roots, which supply it more 

 regularly with nourishment. Potatoes may also be raised 

 from slips, and as a last resource the seed may be sown ; 



1850. And of the culture of carrots f 1851. When, and by whom 

 was the potatoe introduced into Europel 1852. How is it esteemed 

 in Italy! 1853. How many varieties are there 1 ? 1854. From 

 what are they usually raised 1 ? 1855. Will potatoes, if the eye only 

 is planted, flourish as well as though the whole polatoe were planted"? 

 Why not! 



