366 Nctes and Gleanings. 



and soil are most nearly allied to those of the original home. We must ever bear 

 in mind, while selecting localities for the extensive cultivation of the potato, that 

 it is a mountain tropical plant, and has a twofold sympathy, — first with the moun- 

 tains, requiring coolness and moisture, suffering from extremes of heat and cold, 

 moisture and drought ; and, secondly, with the tropics, requiring, like corn, 

 tomatoes, and other tropical plants, exemption from frosts, and a temperature 

 as nearly uniform as possible. It requires, however, less heat than most of the 

 vegetables which have their origin in the tropics. The length of the season is 

 not of so much importance as the uniformity of the temperature. Nature having 

 kindly provided different varieties, which mature, some in three months, and some 

 in five ; so that, with the selection of proper sorts, this esculent can be grown 

 from Maine to Texas. Each variety has a fixed period of maturity, from which 

 it does not vary any more than do the different varieties of corn. The climate 

 best adapted for the potato is found in the mountainous districts of the warmer 

 portions of the country, and in the vicinity of lakes or large bodies of water, the 

 influence of which is to equalize the temperature, and furnish suitable moisture. 

 The soil best adapted to the potato is a rich, sandy loam. Clay soils are too 

 impervious to light, air, and heat. In dry seasons, potatoes may flourish in clay- 

 loam ; but, ordinaril}^ clay surrounds the tuber too compactly, retains water too 

 long, and causes decay even where there is no disease. Sandy and gravelly soils 

 are not so objectionable as clay ; but they vary in their temperature too readily 

 to furnish the best bed for the growth of the potato. If the seed be planted 

 deeply in sand, well enriched, and cultivated witli large hills, or, better still, with 

 a level surface, so as not to suffer from the sudden changes of the atmosphere, 

 the yield is often large, and of excellent quality. Mucky soils, that are deeply 

 drained and covered with sand, furnish some of our best potatoes. If not well 

 drained, muck is as retentive of moisture as clay, and is unfit for the production 

 of this esculent. Muck also radiates and absorbs heat rapidly. Sand remedies 

 this defect ; and there are few soils in which we should plant potatoes with more 

 confidence than in muck well sanded. The effect is the same if the muck-bed 

 is carted on to the sandy land. This is an expensive process ; and therefore, in 

 selecting a field for potatoes, we give a preference to loam in which sand pre- 

 dominates. In all cases where the subsoil is retentive of moisture, deep drainage 

 is necessary. Th!s not only gives the great advantage of early planting, and 

 uniformity of temperature, but also uniformity of moisture ; for it is well estab- 

 lished that lands deeply drained suffer the least from drought. Not only do the 

 roots penetrate to a greater depth in drained land, but the moisture rises by 

 capillary attraction. 



Virgin soil is much preferred by the potato to one that has long been culti- 

 vated. It is usually more light and porous, and abounds with the elements 

 which the tubers need for luxuriant growth. If timbered land, and the brush 

 and stumps have been burned, the ashes will furnish just the nutriment which 

 the potatoes require ; and large, healthy tubers may be confidently expected, 

 whether the season is favorable or unfavorable. Next to a virgin soil ranks old 

 pasture-land. The inverted sod of an old pasture makes a light bed in which 

 potatoes love to lie. If the soil is not naturally rich, it may be necessary to put 



