RECAPITULATION. 65 



mediately appear exhausted. Still it is evident that the removal of so much potash 

 in a crop, must, after a few years, render the land less productive. The ash, it is 

 true, exists as a small percentage, but a large quantity is removed in a ton of tubers. 



9. The composition of the tubers and tops indicates the kind of manure potatoes require. 



Ashes, inasmuch as they contain much potash and lime, are particularly useful. The 

 value of salt as a manure is not yet determined, and yet it seems highly probable that 

 it ranks high as a fertilizer for this crop. Gypsum also is another manure which is 

 required : at least from the constant presence of sulphuric acid, it is evident that some 

 compound containing it is required. The same may be said of the phosphates, as 

 bones, or bones dissolved in sulphuric acid. Some salt of iron will be found highly 

 useful ; or the application of cinders and refuse from the smith's forge, and from iron 

 foundries. Very few soils, however, are met with, which are deficient in iron ; but 

 this does not render the use of these substances nugatory. 



10. Some botanists regard the tuber as a subterranean stem ; but this can not be regarded 

 as an established position, inasmuch as the tuber is wanting in the principal charac- 

 teristics of a stem. Its growth and structure are much more like those of a fruit, 

 the apple for instance ; and hence the propriety of the French name pomme de terre. 



11. It is a subject which has often called for remark, that a better crop of potatoes is 

 raised from cut or sliced tubers, than from those which are planted entire. Different 

 opinions prevail on this subject, in different parts of the State. There is, however, a 

 fact connected with this question, which is important ; it is the difference in the time 

 at which the ends send forth shoots. The rose end, for example, begins to grow a 

 week or more before the heel end. This appears to have a practical bearing : the 

 separation of the tuber in the middle, and planting each end by itself, would seem to 

 be the proper method to be pursued. We may obtain from the rose end an earlier 

 crop than from the heel end ; and it is probable that the difference in the time of 

 sprouting, is connected with the greater amount of water contained in the former. 

 This view of the question seems to be supported by the fact that diseased potatoes 

 send forth shoots preternaturally, or at least before they appear upon sound ones. 

 It will be remembered that I have already stated that diseased tubers contain more 

 water than sound ones, as a general rule. 



12. The carrot, which is regarded by farmers as a valuable root, especially for feeding 

 stock, must be placed among the exhausting crops. Fifteen tons have been obtained 

 from an acre. But the course which has been recommended and adopted, viz. that 

 of sowing it with flax, is still more ruinous ; for, in this mode of culture, two ex- 

 hausting crops are cultivated together. 



13. The parsnip gives a larger per centum of ash than the carrot ; and admitting an equal 

 crop, the soil is more exhausted. It is not, however, an objection to a crop that it is 

 exhausting ; for in most cases its value will be in proportion to its exhaustion. The 

 great desideratum is to keep tllfe soil in a productive condition. This end can be 

 secured only by a knowledge of the influence of crops on the soil. 

 [Agricultural Report — Vol. ii.] 9 



