vol. XV. NO. 3g. 



AND GARDENER'S JOURNAL 



219 



of which arc to l)e gathored, and planted out, in 

 the following springjat a feu inches distance ironi 

 each otiier. When ihey iis.> abont two inches 

 above ground, they should be coveted with two 

 or three inches of mould, and managed in the 

 same manner as if grown from the old potato. 



When arriving at maturity, they should be con- 

 tinually and carefully examined, to discoverthose 

 \yhich appear the earliest in coming to perfection ; 

 which will be denoted by the decay of the liaului. 

 Tliese shoidd be taken up, and in like manner 

 those of a later growth ; but those which show 

 extraordinary vigor should be selected, and the 

 produce of eacli sort being again sown in the en- 

 suing year, a correct judgunnit fuay be formed of 

 the respect ve properties of each. The process is 

 thus so slow and troublesome, that it takes three 

 years to brin.: any new variety to maturity, and a 

 fourth before the real pro|i(Mlies of the root can 

 be correctly ascertained. The product vviil also 

 sometimes disappoint the expectations of the grow- 

 er; for althougli, generally speaking, the major 

 poriion of the crop will be found of the same 

 quantity as tlie original stock, yet it occasionally 

 fails, and tlie new varieties are constantly pro- 

 duced, differing in both color, flavor, size, and the 

 period:! of ripening. Thus, it appears from an 

 experiment lately made in the garden of the Lon- 

 don Horticultural Society, upon twenty-five seed- 

 ling varieties reared by Mr Knight, that the esti- 

 mated produce varied from 1 to upwards of 18 

 tons per acre ; all of different qualities. The best 

 produced from a single tuber, twenty-seven large 

 and seven small roots, the aggregate w;igli:ol 

 which upon an acre of ground it was supposed 

 would equal 17 tons 9 1-2 cwt., and being both 

 large, solid, meuly, white, well-flavored, and in 

 substance and appearance much resembling ihe 

 white yam, has been named by the Society, after 

 Mr Knight's country-seat, the " Downton Yairi 

 Potato." 



SETS A.ND TCBERS. 



We have already stated, that in the common 

 course of lield-liusbandry, potatoes are invariably 

 planted for a crop, either by depositing the entire 

 root, or cuttings from it, railed " s-jts." No ob- 

 jection appears indeed to have been conuiionly 

 entertained against the planting of the whole root, 

 or "tuber," — except on the score of eoonooiy, 

 though probably no other advantage will be there- 

 by gained, for every tuber contains many beads, 

 or "eyes," — from each o( which a shoot will 

 siring, and by sowing these separately, or in cut- 

 tings containing two or more together, a saving is 

 made in the quantity ; but an extraordinary opin- 

 ion is entertained regarding the best method of 

 performing this cperalion. 



Among numlierless experiments which have 

 been made with a view to compare the produce of 

 plantations of different sizes of whole tubers, and 

 sets from diflerent sizes of cuttings, those of en- 

 tire potatoes reported to the Bath Society were 

 generally stated to be superior. Dr Anderson 

 founil that the crop was in some measure propor- 

 tionate to the weights of the sets ; and that it was 

 more profitable to plant small potatoes than small 

 cuttings. Others, however, found that the differ- 

 ence in acreable produce, between large and small, 

 cut or uncut potatoes for sets, was quite iimnate- 

 rial ; but that the saving in the quantity sown, 

 was so much in favor of the cuttings as to require 

 onlv twenty bushels, while whole potatoes con- 

 sumed thirty-seven bushels per acre. Yet, accor- 



ding to a re[)ort made to the Dublin Society of 

 Agi iciilinre, it was stated, on comparison with the 

 sets cut from reasonably large and sniall tubers, 

 that the i)roduce in favor of the fortni-r was as 84 

 to 64 ; and another well inforajed gentlem.ui states, 

 " he lias uniformly foun<l in all his experience, 

 that large sets of potatoes made a more produc- 

 tive return than small ones. And upon trial, both 

 in garden and field, he lias repeatedly found that 

 planting whole potatoes, even though large, very 

 much increases the crop. In this way, however, 

 they require to be planted thinner, as the stems, 

 being stronger and more luxuriant, occupy more 

 space." 



To set this point at rest, five plots of ground of 

 equal si/.e, and as nearly as possible of equal qual- 

 ity, were also lately selected by the London Hor- 

 ticnliural Society for the growth of five different 

 varieties: one-half of which being |danted with 

 whole tubers, and the other with sets containing 

 but one eye each ; and, being placed ecpial dis- 

 tances — eighteen inches apart — the result was 

 as follows : — 



Weight when taken up. 

 Species. Whoh; tidiers. Single eyes, 



tons.cwt.ib 



Early many, 17 10 4 



Sliiiw's, 20 1.5 26 



Red-nosed kidney IS 7 71 



Pink-eyed scotch, 22 15 83 



Champion, 23 14 



The whole tubers appeared above ground, in each 

 instance, three or four days earlier than the sets, 

 and the haulm became somewhat longer ; but the 

 experiments shows that, although the total amount 

 thus estimated to have been obtained is, 



tons. cwt. lb. 



From whole tubers, 113 2 17 



single eyes. 111 3 54 



grown, giTitiinate but fi ebly, and do not attain 

 the same size as those which are found upon the 

 other end, which may be seen by luoking at po- 

 t;itOPS in the spring, when they begin to bud : — 

 those which spring frotn the top end, having far 

 greater vigor and luxuriance than those which 

 Sjiring from the root end. 



It is indeed a point which deserves very serious 

 attention ; and as the other portions of the jmtato 

 can always be used for other purposes, it should 

 never be neglected. Instead, however, of sowing 

 single eyes, we should rather recommend the use 

 of the entire cluster of buds which will be found 

 on the top-end, or nose of the tuber. — Library of 

 Useful Knowledge. 



thus giving an apparent difference in five acres of 

 about two tons, yet it was hardly more than the 

 diflference between the weight of the tubers and 

 the sets originally planted. 



These and other trials, indeed, afl^ord presump- 

 tive eviilence that sets cut from full grown, heal- 

 thy tidiers, are as productive as the whole root ; 

 for although it is recorded as the opinion of the 

 President of the Society, founded upon a variety 

 of experiments carried on during a long series of 

 years, " that the heaviest crops of potatoes, and 

 those most profitable to the grower, will in most 

 soils and seasons be obtained Irom tubers of con- 

 siderable weight, and will be found least subject 

 to decay in wet and cold springs ; be, however, 

 thinks it extremely jsrobable that, when the soil is 

 very dry, so as to preclude all grounds of fear of 

 the cuttings decaying, more regular and better 

 rows of plants might be obtained from .single eyes 

 placed at short distances, with a moderately large 

 portion of matter of the tuber, than the whole 

 tubers." 



It may also be^observed that the eyes or beads, 



which appear like spots upon the skin of the 



potato — are of different kinds ; those at one end 

 being more prolific than the other ; yet, when 

 planted in sets, soine farmers cut off both ends, 

 only making use of the part, in the ujiildle, while 

 others cut it longitudinally — from "nose to tail," 

 and set both lialves indiscriminately ; and many 

 scoop out the eyes and plant them singly. The 

 stems which spring from that end of the potato 

 into wliich the fibre vvbicli connected it with the 

 mother [daut, and from which the potato itself is 



MORK BCOIVOMIBS. 



Hoioto save oil and candles. — Use sun-light two 

 bonis in the morning, and dispense with candles 

 and lamps two hours after 9, P. .M. The morning 

 sun-light is much cheaiier ami better than evening 

 lamp light. 



Hoiv to save expense in clothing. — Purchase that 

 which is at once decent, and the most diir,d)le ; 

 and wear your garment despite the frequent chan- 

 ges of fashion, till it becomes too defacud to appear 

 decent ; then turn it and wear it henceforth as 

 long as it protects the body. A blue coat is as 

 warm after fashion requires a green one, as it ever 

 was. A red shawl in fashion today, is as comfort- 

 able as a black one which fashion requires tomor- 

 row. A fow years hence your fiime will not de- 

 pend upon the style, color or quality of the broad- 

 cloth you wear in 1837. 



How to save time. — Have a place for everything, 

 and when you have done using it, return it to its 

 place. This will save much time in hunting after 

 articles which are thrown carelessly aside and lie 

 you know not where. 



How to save expenses in irnvetling. — Cultivate 

 the hump of inhabitivcness ; and if you want to 

 •^o a mile or two, walk rather than hire an estab- 

 lishment at the livery stable. This will be for the 

 health of your body, as well as a security of your 

 purse from languish ment. 



How to save in lillle mailers. — Procure a book 

 anil keep an exact account of all your expendi- 

 tures. At the expiration of three months, review 

 the account and see how much you have ("xpend- 

 ed in tour penny and nine penny items which you 

 could have done without as well as not. Then 

 see to it that each ensuing quarter shall be minus 

 just those things. In many cases the aggregate 

 would be found more considerable than you 

 would be aware of, unless you kept such an ac- 

 count. 



How to save your property, if your house should 

 be consumed by fire. — Get insured. No one is en- 

 titled to much charity after hj suflTers loss, if he 

 neglects so easy a method of securing himself. 



Hoio to leave your family a subsistence, if you 

 should be suddenly taken away. — Get your life in- 

 sured, for such a sum as would place them in 

 <-omfortable circumstances after your decease. — 

 Banner. 



FiiiE Proof Thu.n'KS. — An individaul of Ports- 

 mouth, N. 11- (.^Ir Washington Sweeiser) has con- 

 structed a fire-proof travelling trunk, and has ob- 

 tained a patent right for the same. The danger 

 from fire, attendant on Railroad and steamboat 

 travelling, in the opinion of the patentee, has cal- 

 led for his improved trunk. 



