2i8 The Rev. E. Cartwright's Essay oti 



When in that state the seeds are to be separated from the pulpy part, p'ther by 

 washing or otherwise. When separated they are to be rubbed dry. Early in the 

 spring they are to be sown on a warm dry border. 



As it will be several weeks before the plants make their appearance, the best way 

 is to sow the seed in pots or boxes, which in bad weather may be brought under 

 cover, or sheltered. 



The seed is sometimes sown in hot-beds, but I do not recommend the practice; 

 for though the plants are by that method brought somewhat earlier to maturity, 

 yet are ihey almost always weak and sickly. As soon as the plants are of suffi- 

 cient strength, which will be about the latter end of May or the beginning of June, 

 they should be transplanted where they are to remain. In doing this, care should 

 be taken to select a warm situation, and where no potatoes have been grown in the 

 former year, for fear of any roots or fragments of the last year's crop being left in 

 the ground, and mixing with the new varieties, which it is the object of this process 

 to obtain. 



It is necessary to set the plants at such distances from each other as that their 

 roots shall not interfere, which on the first appearance of frost, if they are not ripe 

 before, should be taken up. 



It will be sufficient the first year to reserve only a single potatoe from each 

 plant ; for as the potatoe does not assume its permanent character at one year from 

 the seed, no judgment can be formed of its future qualities in that stage. 



The potatoes thus reserved, must next year be planted out at such distances as 

 that their produce may be kept distinct. 



Great attention should be paid to the time of their ripening, as the value of a 

 potatoe is greatly enhanced, ceteris paribus, by its coming soon to maturity. 



In the order in which they ripen, which is known by the deadness of the haulm, 

 the potatoes should be taken up and examined. Such as have peculiarly good 

 qualities to recommend them are, of course, to be preserved, and all of inferior 

 quality should be made away with, that they may not get mixed with better sorts. 



Jn the year 1804, I raised eighty-four plants from seedlings of the preceding 

 year, all from the same kind of potatoe. The produce of scarcely any two roots 

 was alike, either in form, colour, size, or taste. Some ripened early in August; 

 others were not ripe even when the frost set in; some were very prolific, others 

 but moderately so ; some were so rank and offensive to the palate as scarcely to be 



