POTATO. 243 



healthy, perfectly-ripened tubers in suitable soil, and these are 

 usually those of medium size of the variety. 



After the Potatoes appear above ground, they require to be 

 kept clean with hoe and cultivator, and the custom is to draw 

 the earth gradually to the plant, until quite a hiU or ridge is 

 made. Some, however, advise deeper ■ planting, about eight 

 inches, and level cultivation, claiming that in this way a larger 

 proportion of large potatoes is obtained, and that if the tops 

 are cut down by late spring frosts, the part of the stalk below 

 the surface will send up new shoots, and save the crop, only it 

 wHl be later in ripening. 



Some gardeners are very desirous of securing a few very 

 early potatoes, and to accomplish this end have recourse to 

 forcing. This is done by mating a good bottom of manure, 

 about two feet deep; upon this is spread good rich soil to 

 the depth of eighteen inches; then the potatoes are placed upon 

 the earth, and four inches more in depth spread over them. 

 This will leave the top of the ground inside of the frame from 

 six to eight inches below the sash. As soon as the tops appear 

 above the surface, they will need the usual attention of airing 

 by day and covering at night, untU the weather has become 

 settled, and danger from cold storms is over. 



New varieties are raised by sowing the seed contained in the 

 potato balls, which grow on the tops. We have seen very fine- 

 sized tubers raised from seed sown in the spring, though it is 

 more common to gather only small tubers the first year. 

 From these tubers a crop of Potatoes will be had in the autumn 

 of the second year, and from this crop an opinion may be 

 formed of the productiveness, size and quality of the new 

 seedling sorts. 



There are a great many varieties in cultivation, but it is 

 qtiite foreign to our purpose to enter into a description of any 

 more than those which are more especially regarded as garden 

 varieties. 



Ash-Leaved Kidney. — A small, smooth-skinned, white- 



