246 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



These sorts the author can confidently recom- 

 mend, but, as before observed, almost every town 

 and district has its favourite varieties. 



From the above list the Oxnoble has been 

 omitted ; it is rather a coarse potato, and more 

 proper for agriculture than private gardens. 



There are several varieties of the potato lately 

 introduced, which are said to have the appearance 

 of being new all the year round. A few, presented 

 to the author by a gentleman in Southampton, cer- 

 tainly had this desirable quality in great perfection, 

 their flavour being extremely delicate, and indeed 

 very similar to that of new ones ; and without 

 doubt, as the cultivation of this most useful vege- 

 table continues to advance, many very valuable 

 kinds will yet be discovered, to add to the comforts 

 of mankind. 



Culture. The culture of the potato, propagated 

 as it \s> from the root, is so well known, that any 

 laboured dissertation on that subject would be 

 deemed superfluous. 



The first matter to be considered is the soil, 

 which if of a sandy nature, is better calculated for 

 the potato than a heavy soil, though both will do ; 

 but it may be observed that the roots come sweeter 

 and much more mealy in a light than a heavy soil. 

 A light rich loam, neither too dry nor too moist, is 

 best adapted for the growth of potatoes of the finest 

 quality. 



To obtain new varieties of the potato from seed, 

 (of which one single sort will produce a score,) 

 gather the ripest apples, as they are called, in 

 September or October; separate the seeds, and 



