Unprecedented Propagation of the Early Rose Potato. 29 



ning, and, of course, a slow progress. Eut, as the case came under the 

 rule of geometrical jDrogression, on the 20th of July we reached the limit 

 of capacity of our propagating-bed, which was fifteen thousand potato- 

 cuttings ; the leaves being large, and requiring space. The total number 

 of rooted plants was about seventy thousand from the six pounds of 

 tubers. During the unusually warm weather of June and July, it was some- 

 what difficult to sustain the soft, succulent growth. The cuttings fla""'^ed 

 and wilted. It was necessary to shower the bed, and keep the house close, 

 preventing any exhausting draught of air. Still the slight heat from the 

 water-pipes required to keep up the bottom-heat made the temperature of 

 the house excessive at times. We resorted to mats on the roof as a shade. 

 In spite of all efforts, from ten to twenty per cent of the cuttings would 

 damp off during the warm season. 



The cost of this process can easily be estimated. Three men can pre- 

 pare and put into the bed about eight thousand cuttings per day. They 

 can pot from the bed about half that number. And again : they can plant 

 in the field about four thousand. In other words, a day's work of one 

 man will make the cuttings and pot and plant in the open field about five 

 hundred and thirty-three plants. 



And now for the results. 



The early plants exceeded my most sanguine expectations ; becoming 

 established at once, and developing tubers surprisingly. It required but 

 forty days for a potato-top of two inches in length to root and develop and 

 mature two or three large-sized tubers. On account of the continued pro- 

 cess of taking cuttings, none of my plants had a full trial. The actual 

 yield of those planted up to July 30 was at the rate of a hundred and 

 sixty bushels per acre, of full size. Cut very much the largest part of my 

 crop was planted after Aug. i, not with any expectation of obtaining 

 large seed, yet with confidence that small and healthy seed-tubers would 

 be the result. In this I have not been disappointed. Indeed, the result 

 would have much surpassed my expectation, had not the season proved ex- 

 traordinarily cold and wet during the months of September and October. 

 About the middle of September, a cold north-east rain prevailed, and a 

 sudden change came over every potato-field. AH kinds rotted more or 

 less, many fields being not worth digging. My crop, being late, was in 



