Remarks on the Choice of Seed Potatoes, fyc. 317 



hoeing, from the effect and expedition ; of course dry weather 

 is the time for the second drilling and cross-harrowing to be 

 performed. 



I have followed the same plan in drilled beans with advan- 

 tage : it is only my own short and confined experience yet with 

 beans ; but the testimony of the whole district will recommend 

 the potato husbandry. W. M. 



Argyleshire, January 28. 1827. 



Art. XXIV. 'Remarks on the Choice of Seed Potatoes, and on 

 the general Principles of choosing Seed and preserving Fruits. 

 By a Denbighshire Gardener. 



Sir, 



The favourable reception experienced by my letter, inserted 

 in No. VI. of your highly useful publication, (p. 171.) induces 

 me to hope that the following observations, in continuation, 

 will not be uninteresting to you and the readers of the Gar- 

 dener's Magazine. 



Preferring unripe potatoes for seed is not new in practice, 

 — it has for ages prevailed ; for where do the farmers of the 

 rich soils and warm countries send for their seed-wheat and 

 seed-potatoes ? — To the cold, hilly countries, where they do 

 not, one season in three, thoroughly and perfectly ripen their 

 seed. In Denbighshire, we call the hilly or unripe potato the 

 *met potatoes ; and those from the rich soils and warm situ- 

 ations, where they ripen perfectly, we call the dry potatoes, 

 although exactly the same variety : the wet, or unripe, are 

 reckoned best for seed, and the dry for food. The potato 

 tuber is a perfect organised system, in which the circulation 

 regularly proceeds, and if suffered to ripen, will then tend to 

 decay ; but if separated, before ripe, from the stem or stalk, 

 which furnishes it with blood or fruit-sap descending from the 

 leaves, the circulation of the blood-sap is suddenly arrested. 

 The ripe potato, having performed all its operations, becomes 

 more inert ; but the circulation of the sap in the unripe tuber 

 having been stopped, it starts moire readily, and with greater 

 vigour when planted : — the one seems to die, worn out with 

 age, the other seems accidentally to have fallen asleep, and 

 when awoke, possesses an unspent vigour and energy. This 

 is the case not only with the potato, but also with the apple, 

 pear, and other fruits, whose life, i f I may so express it, you 

 wish to prolong or extend beyond t lie time naturally allotted 



