POTATO. 103 



as any rule of Euclid. When passing througli Ireland, that 

 hot-bed of Potatoes, we observed them transplanting the stems 

 that had grown six or eight inches from one part of the field 

 to another, in the same way that Cabbages are planted, and I 

 was informed the crop from those were fully as good as from 

 the sets planted early in the season. This operation can be 

 performed in a country where there is a great deal of moist- 

 ure, or during very cloudy, moist weather, but in dry arid 

 temperatures it would be a doubtful practice. 



Artificial Culture. — Various are the meihods by which 

 Potatoes are forced, such as in frames, pits, hot-beds, under 

 glass, or under shutters and mats. Whichever of these con 

 veniences may be at hand, let there be from twenty inches to 

 two feet of good manure in the bottom, over which place 

 eighteen inches of good soil. Plant thereon your sets of 

 Fox's Seedling, and cover them with four inches of earth. It 

 is necessary that when finished the materials should be within 

 six or eight inches of the glass. Sow over all some Early 

 Short-top Scarlet Radish, which will be off before the Potatoes 

 can be affected by their growth. To prevent their becoming 

 long and spindling, give air on every favorable occasion, when 

 there is sunshine, from ten to three o'clock, protecting them 

 carefully at night. A few Lettuce may also be planted be- 

 tween the rows. They can be cut off as soon as they are in 

 the way. This is making the most of every inch of ground, 

 and every industrious gardener knows the value of time and 

 space. 



New Sorts from Seed. — We can never have Potatoes en- 

 tirely suitable to our climate till we obtain such from seed — an 

 operation rarely if ever attended to properly. For these ex- 

 periments the field is very large, and certain to be crowned 

 with successful results. A single apple^ as they are called, 

 collected in September or October, will produce two dozen 

 5* 



