THE POTATO. 27 



THE POTATO. 



Solanum tuberosum. 



The Potato is a native of Central or Tropical America. 

 In its wild or natural state, as found growing on the moun- 

 tains of Mexico or South America, the tubers rarely exceed 

 an inch in diameter, and are comparatively unpalatable. 

 During the last half-century, its cultivation within the 

 United States has greatly increased ; and it is now con- 

 sidered the most important of all esculent roots, and next 

 to the cereals in value as an article of human subsistence. 



Soil. The soils best suited to the Potato are of the 

 dryer and lighter descriptions ; pasture - lands, or new 

 land, with the turf freshly turned, producing the most 

 abundant as well as the most certain crops. On land of 

 a stiff, clayey texture, or in wet soils, they are not only 

 extremely liable to disease, but the quality is usually very 

 inferior. 



Where the land has been long under cultivation, they 

 seldom produce well, and the quality, even when quite free 

 from disease, is usually much below that of tubers raised 

 on new soil. 



Fertilizers. If the soil is good, but little manure will 

 be required. In highly enriched soil, the plants appear to be 

 more liable to disease than when grown in soil that is natu- 

 rally good. 



The best fertilizers are those of a dry or absorbent na- 

 ture, as plaster, lime, superphosphate of lime, and bone- 

 dust. For wet soils, these are particularly beneficial, as 

 they not only promote growth, but prevent disease. On 

 dry, warm land, muck-compost or barn-yard manure may be 

 applied advantageously. Decaying leaves make an excel- 

 lent fertilizer ; but all applications of very rich manure, par- 

 ticularly in the hill about the sets, at the time of planting, 

 should be avoided. Ashes awe a safe manure, and crops iu 



