48 On the Mode of growing Early Potatoes. 



doing you will make the sprouts much stronger. Towards 

 the latter end of March, set them, covering the sprouts about 

 two inches deep. If the sprouts be about two inches long 

 when set, the potatoes will be ready in seven or eight weeks 

 afterwards. 



Another friend of mine, who has got a green-house, adopts 

 the following plan. He places the potatoes in the green- 

 house, in turf mould, or peat earth, in the beginning of Febru- 

 ary, and keeps them well moistened with water; he plants 

 them in the open air about the end of March, on a warm 

 border, leaving about half an inch of the points of the sprouts 

 above the ground, and protects them during nights by cover- 

 ings of mats. By this plan he is able to have new potatoes 

 about the beginning of May. It is considered a very material 

 thing to get the potatoes well sprouted before they are planted. 



I am, Sir, &c. 



M. Saul. 

 Sulyard Street, Lancaster, Nov. 4-. 1 826. 



P. S. — In July last, it was feared that the winter potatoes 

 would be a bad crop, on account of the dryness of the season, 

 and this induced many to plant a second crop in August ; not- 

 withstanding the lateness, this second crop has produced a 

 more abundant crop than the first. Many planted them merely 

 as an experiment, to see whether it would answer to plant pota- 

 toes in August or not, and the trial has proved that they will 

 answer very well. M. S. 



This being an important subject for all who possess small 

 gardens, and especially for cottagers, we invite as many of 

 our readers as conveniently can, to consider this paper in con- 

 nection with that of R. W., and make such trials as suggest 

 themselves, and as circumstances will permit. Mr. S. says 

 nothing about the kind of early potatoe used, or the mode of 

 cutting the sets. But, in the mean time, every one may try 

 an experiment with the best variety of early potato that is 

 to be found in his neighbourhood, and follow the directions of 

 R. W. in respect to the sets. In some parts of Scotland, it 

 is customary in preparing the sets both of early and late pota- 

 toes, to begin by cutting off and throwing aside for the pigs 

 the two extremities of the potatoe : that full of buds as being 

 apt to run too much to haulm, and the root-end, or that in 

 which there are none. — Cond. 



