ON THE CULTURE OF THE POTATOE. 335 



to me, however, the important intelligence that the same varieties bore 

 more abundantly at a former period, and often that the quality of the 

 former produce was superior. When I first stated, in a former commu- 

 nication, that I had obtained a produce equivalent to six hundred and 

 seventy bushels of eighty pounds per acre, I found some difficulty in 

 obtaining credit for the accuracy of my statement, though T then felt 

 perfectly confident that by first obtaining varieties better adapted to my 

 purpose, I should be able to raise much heavier crops ; and the following 

 statement, in support of which I am prepared to adduce the most 

 unquestionable evidence, will prove that my confidence was perfectly well 

 founded. 



I planted in my garden, in the last season, some tubers of a variety of 

 potatoe of very early habits, but possessing more vigour of growth than is 

 usually seen in such varieties. The soil in which they were planted was in 

 good condition, but not richer than the soils of gardens usually are, and 

 the manure which it had received consisted chiefly of decayed oak leaves, 

 which I prefer to other manures, because it never communicates a strong 

 taste or flavour to any vegetable. No previous preparation was given to 

 the soil, and the spot where the plantation was made was not fixed upon 

 till the day of planting ; and no manure of any kind was then given. 

 Owing to the variety being of a very excitable habit, I planted the tubers 

 at least nine inches deep in the soil, and I subsequently raised the mould 

 in ridges three inches high to prevent the young plants sustaining 

 injury from frost ; but no subsequent moulding was given. I antici- 

 pated from the previous produce of the variety, which I had raised by 

 cross-breeding from two early varieties in 1830, a very extraordinary 

 crop ; and I therefore invited several gardeners and farmers to witness 

 the amount of it; and I procured the attendance of the two most eminent 

 agriculturists of the vicinity, who were tenants to other gentlemen. The 

 external rows (two deep), and the external plants at the ends of all the 

 remaining rows, were taken away, and the produce of the interior part 

 of the plantation was alone selected ; and that was pronounced to be fully 

 equivalent to nine hundred and sixty-four bushels and forty-three pounds, 

 or 34 tons 8 cwt. 107 Ibs. per statute acre. Still larger crops may, I 

 feel satisfied, be obtained, and my opinion is, that more than a thousand 

 bushels of potatoes may, and will be, obtained from an acre of ground. 



An opinion is I believe generally prevalent, that varieties of potatoes 

 of very high and luxuriant growth are capable of affording per acre the 

 greatest weight of produce : but this is certainly erroneous. Such will 

 grow in poorer soil, and, requiring wider intervals between the rows, are 



