ROOT CULTURE. 77 



picked off with the finger, leaving the stock or stem 

 uninjured, to produce more potatoes from the run- 

 ners. From the eye-sets of the unripe tubers we 

 had a supply every day for a fortnight, when those 

 of the bottom sets came into use for another fort- 

 night ; at that time, potatoes from the eye or top sets 

 from the ripe seed came into use, and were succeed- 

 ed by potatoes from the bottom sets of the ripe seed. 

 Those kept for seed, or the table, were earthed up 

 as usual, and each row produced almost as large a 

 crop as any two rows not earthed up the luxury of 

 an early potato being a greater object than the 

 quantity." 



Choice of sorts. There is a difference of nearly 

 one half in the nutritious or fattening properties of 

 different varieties of the potato. Those which are 

 best for table are best for market and best for farm- 

 stock, though their yield is generally less than thai 

 of the coarser varieties. Those in the highest es- 

 teem are the Pink-eyes, Mercers, Sault St. Marie, 

 St. Helena; and almost every district has its othei 

 favourites. The Rohan, we think, will ultimately 

 obtain the ascendancy, on account of economy iu 

 seed, its yield, and its intrinsic merits.* 



Mode of planting. Three modes are practised : in 

 hills and in drills, as a distinctive crop, and in alter- 

 nate double or treble rows with Indian corn. The 

 propriety of planting in hills or drills depends upon 

 the condition of the soil ; if it has been thoroughly 

 subdued by the plough, drills are to be preferred, as 



* The following remark is in this connexion worthy the at 

 tention of the practical agriculturist. " The first point to which 

 I wish to direct the attention of the cultivator of the potato is, 

 the age of the variety ; for it has long been known, that every vari 

 ety cultivated gradually bf comes debilitated, and loses a large portion 

 of its powers of producing ; and 1 believe that almost every variety 

 now cultivated in this and the adjoining counties has long since pass 

 ed the period of its age at which it ought to have resigned its place to a 

 successor.' 1 '' T. A. KNIGHT. Farmer's Instructo; i., 193, pub- 

 lished by Harpei & Hrotlf era. 



