248 Transactio?is of the Botanical and Horticultwal Socieij/ 



generally made their appearance about the time that potatoes 

 are planted in spring. He therefore tried planting in October, 

 protecting with litter during winter, and sheltering the tops 

 with branches of evergreens, stuck in on each side of the rows, 

 as in sticking peas, in spi'ing. He also planted some of the 

 same kind of potato, in the same soil and situation, in Febru- 

 ary, in order to compare the difference. Those planted in 

 October made their appearance about the 20th of March ; 

 those in February, about the beginning of April. At this time 

 the ground was forked about the October planted ones, as it 

 had been much soddened during winter by the snow and 

 rain ; it was also watered at this time. The young potatoes 

 might be discerned at the roots, as large as the largest Mar- 

 rowfat pease ; while, at the February planted sets, the fruitful 

 runners were only beginning to shoot forth. On the 4th of 

 June, good potatoes were taken from the October planted ones, 

 such as could not be got from the February ones at three 

 weeks afterwards. Cut sets are apt to rot in winter, but this 

 is easily remedied by planting small potatoes whole. 



The above mode Mr. Tindall has successfully practised 

 since 1820, it therefore well deserves imitation in every part 

 of the island, where a covering of litter will keep out the frost. 



15. On the Culture of Potatoes. By Lieutenant West, R. N. 



Mr. West quotes, from a letter in Timers Telescope, to show 

 that the only way to prevent the curl, is to renew occa- 

 sionally from seed. The long kidney potato, he states, flou- 

 rishes best in a strong soil ; the large yam, in a stiiF loam ; the 

 American early, in a light rich mould ; and the Irish round, 

 in fresh newly turned up land. The best manure for the 

 flavour of the potato, is the decomposed leaves of beech, syca- 

 more, and willow. Well-screened coal-ashes, with the ashes 

 of wood and weeds, and a mixture of loose horse litter, will 

 render a strong, stiff, clayey soil, fit for producing abundant 

 crops. He cuts his sets about the middle of February, and 

 places them in a box of coal-ashes and sand. When they 

 have shot an inch in length, he plants them in drills 3 in. deep, 

 1 ft. between set and set, and 3 ft. between the drills. 



16. On the Culture of the Melon. By Mr, Thomas Smith, 

 Gardener to Matthew Bell, Esq., Woolsington. 



17. On the Culture of Endive. By the same. 

 18. On the Cultivation of Lettuce. By the same. 

 Three good and useful papers, for the first and second 

 of which silver medals were awarded to Mr. Smith. 



