Short Communicafions. 589 



degrees at an average. The Bishop's early dwarf comes into 

 bloom, and drops its blossom, nearly as soon as the early 

 frame ; but it is longer in filling its pods : however, in conse- 

 quence of its dwarfness and productiveness, it is without an 

 equal for forcing in houses, pits, or frames. I am, Sir, yours, 

 &c. — George Thomson. High Elms, July 3. ]833. 



A Note on the Planting of Potatoes. — Persons have whole 

 acres of potatoes rotting, about Dublin, every spring. The 

 cause is assigned to every thing but the right thing. The 

 Irishman's mode of planting the potato is, to cover the seed 

 potatoes with dung in the drills, to keep them warm, and to 

 spread out the cut seed in the barn, to keep it from rotting; 

 and both acts have just the opposite effect with early potatoes. 

 In planting potatoes in the end of April, or the month of 

 May, it is immaterial whether the seed be planted under the 

 dung or above it, in the drills; for at that season the potato 

 will grow freely either way : but earlier in the season, as 

 February and March, it is of the utmost importance that the 

 seed should lie on the top of the dung, for then it lies in a 

 situation warmer, by several degrees, than it does when under 

 it ; and besides lying dry, it gets the benefit of the atmo- 

 spheric air, which cannot penetrate through the cold wet 

 dung to the seed, when the seed is placed beneath it. The 

 air about Dublin, when not freezing, is mostly about 40° to 

 45°, and sometimes to 50°, through the winter and spring 

 months : this air presses through the earth as far as the 

 potato that lies in the dung ; but does not penetrate to the 

 seed under it. Air, heat, and water are the causes of 

 vegetation ; and the air the main spring. The drills being 

 dug with the spade, when filled in with the dung and earth, 

 are much looser than the space between, and answer as a 

 receptacle for all the wet that falls ; the seed lying so long 

 dormant, and in such a cold wet bed, has no other chance 

 but to rot. The potatoes likewise, after being cut, should not 

 be spread out to dry, but laid up in a close heap for about 

 a fortnight before planting. The air at that early season is 

 too cold for them fresh cut, and damages the seed before it is 

 put into the ground : when laid in a heap they will not rot. 

 But where is the advantage of planting potatoes of any sort 

 earlier than the middle of March, for vegetation does not 

 commence in them till then ? It is the height of absurdity to 

 blame the salt water, or to deem them to have been damaged 

 in the ship: when, if we do but think a little, the real cause 

 may be found easily enough. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — James 

 Hart. Biihlin, April 27- 1833. 



[Our correspondent has subsequently pursued this subject 

 in the following communication.] 



