Proceedings of the Farmers^ Club. 199 



nappens to remain of the preceding year's crop, of the early kind, 

 with little or no selection, while the first shoot above ground is 

 often cut back by frost. Then as soon as the young tubers attain 

 the size of hickory nuts, the fibrous roots are laid bare and the 

 immature plant remorselessly robbed of its immatm-e progeny for 

 early use. This robbery often is repeated, to the great detriment 

 of the plant. Being thus robbed, they generally are left in the 

 ground to be dug up at the time of the late crop; and if they have 

 made second or even third growths, or produced seed or not, the 

 husbandman cares not; he thinks potatoes are potatoes; and from 

 such he expects sound ones may be propagated. But nature says 

 no. If you will not exercise reason and act in concert with me 

 your potatoes shall die, and I will feed my infusoria with them. 

 The late crop is generally planted so as to allow them barely time 

 to make tubers that will barely keep through the winter, and the 

 vines are often cut down by frost before the seed is matured; in 

 vhich case the tubers have an imperfect organism. Some seasons 

 tiey make a considerable second growth, and very few plants 

 hive sufficient vital energy necessary to fructification, and conse- 

 quently they bear no seed. At the approach of winter they are 

 dig, but no selection is made for next year's sets. Those which 

 an not marketed are often culled over through the winter. The 

 most comely are taken for table use, and the misshappen ones left 

 foi seed. Now, a tuber which makes a second or lateral growth 

 immrts a portion of its substance and vitality to the out-growth. 

 It Is then not very good for food, and much less so for seed. 

 Naure has decreed that potatoes may generate healthfully, once 

 in 3ne year and no more; all beyond this is unnatural; and that 

 whch is unnatural cannot endure. By a continuation of such 

 prstices, sooner or later, death by exhaustion must be the inevita- 

 ble consequence. Hence it is necessary to adopt a new and more 

 efficient practice, in order to reclaim and perpetuate the potato. 

 Cbose the best known variety, which has the quality of maturing 

 in a moderately short time. Take it under your special care. 

 Pint it either for summer or winter use, the difference being only 

 in the time of planting. For summer, as early as you choose, at 

 yoir own risk; but make no reservation of seed-tubers. In deter- 

 miiing when to plant for the main crop, several things should be 

 coisidered, such as late and early frosts, latitude, elevation, <fec. 

 G<od husbandry will be necessary as a matter of course, but be 

 ca-eful not to disturb the roots, after blossoming. When the 



