70 The Potatoe Plaque. 
which appear to me most in point. The fist gives the result 
of two opposite methods of treating potatoes intended for seed 
as practised by two intelligent farmers. 
The first farmer has planted the same kind of ash-top kid- 
ney for more than ten years. The first year or two he took 
up those intended for seed at the same time as those intended 
for consumption; but found that they grew so much during 
the winter that they were obliged to be sprouted twice, which 
weakened the set so much as to injure the crop. He then 
tried the effect of leaving them longer in the ground — some- 
times as much as three months after the plant was ripe. This 
produced the desired effect of preventing the growth during 
winter; but after some years’ continuance he found the ger- 
minating power so much injured that they were a month or 
more later in coming up than those of his neighbors, treated 
in the ordinary way. In fact, he could scarcely get them to 
grow at all, and was forced to change his plan. 
The second farmer has grown ash-top kidneys for some 
years, and finds them better and earlier than when he first 
got them. Is in the habit of planting those he intends for 
sets after taking up his crop of cabbages, which is at the end 
of June or beginning of July. He also takes them up before 
they are ripe; never finds them fail; they grow earlier in 
spring than potatoes not so treated, and make stronger and 
healthier plants. 
The contrast between these two instances is very complete. 
Two men, living not above two hundred yards from one 
another, and whose gardens are almost precisely similar, 
grow the same kind of potatoe in the same seasons. The 
potatoes of the last named being taken up unripe, improve 
both in vigor and early maturity, while the first, which are 
left in the ground till over-ripe, will scarcely grow at all. 
Another case. A farmer in Tawden, near Scarborough, 
(which some years ago supplied large quantities of potatoes 
