Culture of Early Potatoes in Denbighshire. 17S 



with the finger, leaving the stalk or stem standing uninjured, 

 to produce more potatoes from the runners. From the eye 

 sets of the unripe tubers we had a full supply every day for a 

 fortnight, when those from the bottom sets came into use for 

 another fortnight ; at that time potatoes from the eye or top sets 

 from the ripe seed came into use, and were succeeded by po- 

 tatoes from the bottom sets of the ripe seed. Those kept for 

 seed, or the table, were earthed up as usual, and each row 

 produced almost as large a crop as any two of the rows not 

 earthed up — the luxury of an early potato being a greater 

 object than the quantity. 



The writer has this day examined the potatoes preserved 

 for seed (taken up unripe) of the three varieties laid in the 

 garden-house, northern aspect, upon a stone floor, and the 

 sprouts from the eye, on the eye end of all are nearly an inch 

 long, vigorous and strong. 



By earthing up the potatoes, they become three weeks later. 

 I could add much more, but fearful that I shall exhaust your 

 patience, as well as that of your readers, I will now conclude. 



I am, Sir, 



A Denbighshire Gardener. 



Nov. 9. 1826. 



The above communication opens to view some new and 

 important features in the cultivation of the early potato. The 

 circumstance that earthing up retards the crop, and that plants 

 after having borne one crop without being earthed up, will 

 bear another after the operation of earthing, is important ; the 

 mode of preparing the seed on the gravel walk is not less so ; 

 and indeed the whole paper possesses great interest, both in 

 respect to gentlemen's gardens, and the gardens of cottagers. 

 Farther communications on the same and on other subjects 

 are earnestly requested from our very intelligent corre- 

 spondent. 



Mr. Saul, in addition to his communication on the subject 

 of potatoes, in our last Number (p. 47.), observes, that the 

 sort principally used about Lancaster is the Foxley seedling; 

 he has sent us a specimen of this potato, planted in a small pot, 

 and some remarks, from which it appears he is of opinion that 

 planting in pots, and protecting in a frame, green-house, or 

 forcing-house, is the best mode for the earliest crop. His 

 period of transplanting into the open air is the 1st of March ; 

 he also recommends a frequent change of sets, and that from 

 land as different as possible in quality from that in which they 

 are intended to be planted. — Cotid. 



