POT 



POT 



erally assigned for the total or par- 

 tial failure of the potato in ninnber- 

 less instances, and to a most distress- 

 ing extent in Ireland, have existed 

 since the culture of the potato com- 

 menced, but without the effects de- 

 plored, which have only prevailed 

 within a very recent space of time. 

 But from the frequent and searching 

 investigation of the subject by the 

 most competent and practical men, a 

 preventive against the failure has 

 been ascertained, namely, the plant- 

 ing of entire tubers. When cut sets 

 have failed, the entire tubers have 

 resisted premature decay ; whether 

 it arises from atmospheric influence 

 or debility of constitution, or from 

 any of the conjectured causes, the 

 entire tubers resist these noxious in- 

 lluences, and germinate healthily and 

 freely. All reports agree on this 

 point : there is no risk in this case, 

 if the tubers be sound when planted ; 

 and it may be added, that in all 

 stages of their growth, the uncut tu- 

 bers maintain a decided superiority 

 and yield a corresponding produce. 



" The farina of the potato, properly 

 granulated and dried, is sold in our 

 shops as tapioca, to which it bears 

 the closest resemblance both in ap- 

 pearance and essential properties. 

 For confectionery, the flour is so del- 

 icately white, and it is so digestible 

 and nutritious, that it ought to be in 

 more general use. Few housewives 



are ignorant of the method of obtain- 

 ing it by the use of a common hand- 

 grater and sieve ; but for yielding 

 larger supplies, some machinery is 

 necessary. The preceding figure rep- 

 resents an approved implement : b is 

 the hopper ; the potatoes are scraped 

 by the wires set in the revolving 

 wheel a." 



Manures for the Potato. — Lime is 

 eminently serviceable in improving 

 the mealiness and flavour of the po- 

 tato ; salt, at the rate of five bush- 

 els the acre, is also an invaluable ma- 

 nure ; but all gross animal composts 

 are injurious, many of them render- 

 ing the tubers waxy and of bad fla- 

 vour. The fresh potato contains 75 

 per cent, water ; 1000 pounds in the 

 ordinary state yield 828 pounds ash- 

 es. The composition of the ash is, by 

 Sprengel, 



1000 lbs. tubers. 1000 lbs. tops 



This analysis also explains why 

 plaster is sometimes useiul in com- 

 posts intended for the potato. A light 

 soil abounding in humus is most prof- 

 itable for this crop. 



POTATO FLY. See Blistering 

 Fly. 



POTATO PIES, CAMPS, or 

 PITS. See Potato and Barrow. 

 Earthen mounds to store potatoes 

 and other roots. 



POTATO STARCH. The farina. 

 See Potato. 



POTATO SUGAR. The sugar 

 produced from potatoes by boiling po- 

 tato starch with sulphuric acid. It 

 is glucose. See Suizar. 



POTATO WASHER. The figure 

 on the following page represents a 

 simple and effective implement. It 

 consists of a trough containing water, 

 on which is made to revolve a cylin- 

 drical cage (c) containing the pota- 

 toes. The cage opens to allow the 

 tubers to be introduced and with- 

 drawn. 



618 



