186 KITCHEN GARDEN. 



and kept there till the beginning of autumn, or if their 

 growth be in any way retarded, and if they be planted 

 at that season of the year, young potatoes may thus be 

 procured, during the winter season, by merely prevent- 

 ing the access of frost with a covering of litter. 



Potatoes are commonly propagated by dividing the 

 tubers, leaving to each cut one or two eyes or buds. 

 The sets are then planted by the aid of the dibble or 

 spade, in rows at a distance varying from fifteen inches 

 to two feet. It was suggested by the late Mr. Knight, 

 and his views have been amply confirmed by experi- 

 ment, that by planting whole tubers, and at great dis- 

 tances, a larger produce might be obtained. Mr. Knight 

 proposed to -leave four feet between the rows, a distance 

 which, except with the larger varieties, was found to be 

 unnecessarily great. An experienced horticulturist in 

 Scotland states, that by planting whole tubers, and by 

 leaving in the ease of dwarfs two feet, and in the tall 

 varieties two feet and a half, between the rows, a return 

 from one-third to one-half more was obtained than could 

 be had from the old method. Of course more tubers 

 are required for planting, but these bear no proportion 

 to the great increase which results ; and besides, early 

 potatoes at the planting season being unfit for table 

 use, there is little economy in sparing them. 



The earliest crop should, if possible, be placed in a 

 light soil, and in a warm situation, and should be planted 

 about the middle of March. Sometimes the eyes of the 

 tubers are made to spring or vegetate on a hotbed, and 

 the plants are put out as soon as the leaves can bear 

 the open air. Perhaps it is better, as recommended by 

 Mr. Saul, of Lancaster, to promote incipient vegetation 

 in some warm jilace, as a house oi> green-house, by lay- 



