12 Cultivation of the Potatoe. 
When circumstances are otherwise favorable, very strong 
plants are often obtained by setting mere cuttings of potatoes 
containing a single eye; or, even the eye by itself But on 
heavy land, which has not been well pulverized, as well as 
on a sandy soil, there is great danger of failure, if, after 
setting, or during germination, the weather should be unfa- 
vorable for the formation of the plant. T’o ensure success, 
this plant must, by means of its feeble roots, immediately 
seek for nourishment in the soil. Jt must not encounter a 
hard piece of ground: for, as it derives no nourishment from 
the maternal plant, it would then dry up and perish. I 
therefore abandon this method altogether, although I former- 
ly recommended it; it succeeds very well in gardens, but is 
very uncertain for potatoe crops grown in the open field. = - 
There will always be a difference of opinion touching the 
expediency of setting potatoes close together, or far apart; 
for the decision of this matter depends.upon adventitious cir- 
cumstances; but repeated trials accurately described, seem to 
show that the quantity of produce is, to a considerable ex- 
tent, in proportion to that of the sets. The practical results 
of these trials are as follows: — 
1. The amount of net produce, deduction being made for 
the quantity of potatoes used for setting, bears a tolerably ex- 
act proportion to the latter quantity,—that is to say, that 
one who sets a larger quantity of tubers, will usually obtain a 
more abundant crop than one who sets a smaller quantity. 
2. Fine large tubers produce not only larger potatoes, but 
also a greater number of them. 
8. The degeneracy often observed in potatoes, apparently 
results from the use of unhealthy plants for setting. 
4. Small tubers, and those which are destitute of buds, 
cannot by any means be recommended for setting. 
5. When potatoes of medium quality are planted, it is bet- 
ter to set them whole; but when the tubers are very large, 
