POTATO. 255 



haps is not done till they have grown out several 

 inches. This also causes a fermentation, whereby 

 every original eye is forced into a shoot, which con- 

 siderably lessens the strength of the sets hereafter. 

 Under these and similar circumstances there is no 

 reason to expect a healthy growth or a good crop, 

 as it is quite impossible that plants with their ve- 

 getative powers nearly exhausted, can fully de- 

 velop their respective parts, and hence the foliage 

 suffers . 



For the prevention of this disease, change of 

 seed has been advised, which the author considers 

 from long experience to be of the first importance ; 

 it will in most instances prove efficient, but many 

 of the sets, if due care is not taken, will relapse into 

 their old disorder. 



The author has tried many of the supposed pre- 

 ventives, but found none better than always plant- 

 ing well ripened sets, and turning frequently over the 

 heaps of potatoes intended for seed, to prevent a 

 premature growth of the eyes. 



Artificial culture. The term artificial is applied 

 to all vegetables which require the warmth of dung 

 or fire to bring them forward: and is therefore 

 applicable to the potato in the present instance. 



Various are the methods by which potatoes are 

 forced, such as in pits, frames, under glass, in pots, 

 boxes, &c. 



Pits, in which cucumbers or melons have been 

 recently raised, will do well for a very early crop 

 of potatoes ; by taking the mould out to within two 

 or three inches of the dung, or whatever else the 

 pit has been filled with. On the surface plant well 



