326 BOA.RD OF AGRICULTURE. 



such a strain when those of a horse can he obtained, and the 

 work be better accomplished in a tenth part of the time. When 

 it is desired to throw the mellowed soil in ridges the side teeth 

 of the cultivator can be taken out, when the long mould-boards 

 of the cultivator will place the soil where it is needed. Nor 

 should the cultivation be continued late in the season, for a 

 new setting of tubers may be thus occasioned, which will be 

 late and small, and will draw the nourishment from those set 

 more early. In case the potatoes are planted early, and the 

 land is rich, as it should be, the tops will completely cover 

 the ground by the first of July, keeping it shaded and moist, 

 and smothering the weeds that may be struggling to live. 



The question, whether to plant large or small, cut or uncut 

 tubers, has long been a mooted one. We are satisfied, both 

 from our own observation and the testimony of others, that 

 medium-sized tubers are better than large or small, and that 

 they should always be cut lengthwise, leaving three or four eyes 

 in each piece. We have raised good crops of potatoes from 

 small tubers and small pieces with single eyes. The use of such 

 seed for one year may produce no marked deterioration ; but let 

 this plan be continued for a series of years and degeneracy will 

 surely follow. It will be found a penny wise and pound foolish 

 policy. The use of the tuber is to furnish nourishment to the 

 young shoot, and if a generous slice is planted the shoot comes 

 up strong and healthy, with a broad leaf, and grows vigorously, 

 overtopping the weeds. If a small piece or only a sprout is 

 planted, it starts slowly and feebly and requires much nursing. 

 When the seed of some rare variety costs a dollar per pound, 

 the temptation is great to plant the sprouts only, and to plant 

 successive sprouts from the same eye. This may answer as a 

 temporary expedient for money-making, but is contrary to the 

 laws of good seeding. We are confident the practice tends to 

 the deterioration of the constitution of the potato. It is like 

 stunting an animal in the early stages of its growth. Generous 

 feeding afterwards may apparently compensate for the damage 

 done by the previous parsimony, still the constitution of the ani- 

 mal has received a shock not easily remedied, and will be very 

 apt to show it in the next generation. Certainly if the process 

 of half-starving the young is continued for a succession of gen- 

 erations, we may expect a degenerate race of animals. We know 



