VEGETABLES DESCRIPTION AND CULTURE. 277 



Fox Seedling. A medium-sized, round, white potato, 

 of fine flavor when it first matures, but does not keep for 

 winter. 



Ash-Leaved Kidney. Kidney-shaped, thin-skinned, of 

 good form, with few eyes. In planting, cut it lengthwise 

 through the centre ; very early. 



Mercer. Long, kidney-shaped, flattish, full of eyes, 

 and often knobbed, spotted with pink at the small ends. 

 It is early and productive. 



Prince Albert. Oblong, a little flattened, yellowish, 

 white eyes, few, and scarcely sunk in the smooth skin ; 

 ripens with the Mercer. Several varieties have been directly 

 imported from South America, and others originated from 

 these, by Rev. C. E. Goodrich, of Utica, N. Y. We 

 cultivated several of his kinds for some years, and were 

 pleased with their quality and freedom from rot. Among 

 them were the Black Diamond, Garnet Chili, Pale Blush 

 Pink Eye, New Hartford, and Rough Purple Chili. 

 They are more hardy than the old sorts, but none are 

 entirely free from rot. [The Early Goodrich, one of Mr. 

 G's. seedlings, and the Sebec, are among the most prized 

 early varieties at the North, and the Early Rose, a des- 

 cendant of the Garnet Chili, is of excellent quality, and the 

 earliest yet known. Ed^\ At the South a potato is re- 

 quired that will continue growing through the long sum- 

 mer. The common sorts ripen early, and commence new 

 growth, so that it is very difficult to keep them in their 

 dry, mealy state. Starting the buds has the same effect 

 upon these tubers as upon the grains of wheat which lose 

 their starch by conversion into sugar and dextrine, mak- 

 ng both the flour and tuber, when cooked, far less pala- 

 table and nourishing. 



Potash and phosphate of magnesia are indicated by anal- 

 ysis to be the most important inorganic elements of the 

 plant. Wood ashes will furnish most of the constituents 

 required from the soil. 



