132 Culture of the Potato. 



some years, that three fourths of the evils complahied of in fruit 

 trees arise from mismanagement of the root. It will be readily 

 seen that this is one of the reasons why I recommend table 

 trellises on wall borders ; and, with the other reasons, viz. the 

 reciprocal injury done to bush, tree, and vegetables, in mixed 

 cropping, in regard of light, together with the great advantage 

 these borders possess for a system of trellising the tender pears, 

 &c., it is sufficient, in my opinion, to warrant a departure from 

 the old practice. 



I believe that I have now said all that the limits of this paper, 

 and the character of your work, will allow; though I have only 

 exhibited what I call a skeleton of the affair ; and it is very pro- 

 bable that this article will be much too long for one party, and 

 much too speculative for another. However, I have not forgotten 

 the old fable of " the Man and his Ass." I am well aware how 

 difficult it is for the human mind to shake off entirely its early 

 prepossessions in favour of certain habits and systems. I can 

 only hope that these observations and suggestions may be judged 

 with candour and caution before they are condemned, especially 

 by those of your readers who love to see the profession in the 

 ascending scale. As for those who read with the preintention of 

 snarling, not to say biting, I can only say I am sorry for them, 

 and that such folks too frequently " die in their sins." 



Oulton ParJc, June. 1835. 



Art. VIII. On the Cultwe of the Potato. By R. L. 



Turning over the last volume of your Magazine, in order to 

 see what it contained respecting potatoes, I was disappointed at 

 the very little notice taken of that root, which may now almost 

 be considered as the staff of life. One of your correspondents, 

 from East Ham, speaks most decidedly against planting whole 

 potatoes; whereas I am satisfied, by repeated experiments, that 

 one third more potatoes (especially of the kidney kind) are pro- 

 duced by whole potatoes than by cuttings or sets. I have, for 

 twenty years, been a grower of this valuable article ; and, though 

 onlv in a small way, yet I do not think myself the less qualified 

 to form a judgment; because I have often and carefully made 

 experiments, both as to the mode of culture and sorts of 

 potatoes. Persons who plant 300 or 400 acres annually, have 

 neither time nor inclination for observation and experiment; 

 and, perhaps, like other farmers, are wedded to their own 

 system. 



A Yorkshire gentleman, who plants yearly 150 acres for the 

 London market, informs me that he plants sets, and not whole 

 potatoes, and thinks 350 bushels an acre a very great crop. Now, 



