1 34> Experiment made xviih Three Potatoes. 



quantities. I shall carefully mark the result; which, with a 

 specimen of the three kinds of potato, I would send you, if you 

 like it. [We shall be very happy to receive it.] 

 Jpril 6. 1835. 



Art. IX. An Account of an Experiment made xvith Three Potatoes, 

 By Mr. John Denson, Sen. 



In 1832, I received three potatoes from you, with a request 

 that I would plant them, and get what produce I could from 

 them. When I received them they bore shoots in a forward state ; 

 those I took from the plants, and struck in a slight heat, at the 

 same time covering the potatoes over with the warm earth. By 

 this method the potatoes, by the time the cuttings were struck, 

 had formed fi'esh shoots : those shoots I carefully took off; I then 

 cut the potatoes, leaving one or two eyes to a cutting : by these 

 means I had nearly plants sufficient to plant half a pole of land : 

 the produce was upwards of two bushels. 



This year (1833) I planted the produce in an open field, in 

 the latter end of May, in rows a yard distant from each other : 

 by this means my crop had the full benefit of the sun and air ; 

 and, notwithstanding the season being unkind for potatoes, the 

 produce averaged at the rate of full 400 bushels per acre. The 

 greater portion was earthed up in due time : some few rows, 

 for a time, were not : both were kept free from weeds. There 

 was very little difference in the produce : what difference there 

 was was in favour of those that were earthed up ; and as, be- 

 sides, the earthing up causes the culture to look more workman- 

 like, I shall continue to practise it. 



The potatoes are of the red kind, with a purple eye, and are 

 of good size and excellent flavour. 



I believe I have previously informed you that, owing to the 

 kindness of the vicar, the greater portion of the labourers in the 

 village occupy from half an acre to an acre of land. It was on 

 a portion of this land that I grew the potatoes I have been speak- 

 ing of. My neighbours have been in the habit of planting their 

 potatoes in rows from 18 in. to 22 in. asunder. As my crop has 

 been the most productive of any in the field, they will alter their 

 system : by so doing, their potatoes will be better with less la- 

 bour and less seed. I have often considered a crop might 

 almost as well be smothered with weeds, as to suffer it to smother 

 itself by being planted too thickly. 



Waterbeachi Cambridgeshire, December , 1833. 



[This communication has been delayed at the request of the 

 gentleman from whom we received the three potatoes, who was 



