ox REART>'G KITCHEN VEGETABLES. 



49 



injuries from frost, Trhich is almost UDavoidable in those 

 which are planted still earlier. 



Since the occurrence of the potato disease, it has been 

 found best to use chiefly such sorts as ripen early^ and 

 to plant them towards the middle or in the first week of 

 March where the ground is of a wet nature. Manure 

 of all kinds has been thought to develop the disease, 

 unless very sparingly applied, and land that is the 

 lightest or most sandy appears to produce the soundest 

 crops. Guano, applied in showery weather, just as the 

 shoots are breaking through the ground, has proved a 

 good manure, if not too copiously administered. When 

 early planting causes the shoots to appear above ground 

 before the spring frosts have ceased, they should be 

 freely earthed up as soon as their growth is observed, as 

 this will often be the means of saving them. 



The sorts of potatoes are numerous, and many of them 

 peculiar to certain districts, as the minions in Ireland, 

 and champions around London. The kidneys, or long 

 white, and the Scotch red or purple, are excellent for nev7 

 ground. Most counties have, however, a number of sorts 

 peculiar to themselves : and these are generally preferable 

 to such as are obtained from other parts. The best can 

 be easily known by inquiry of any good gardener or 

 farmer ; and earliness of ripening will certainly now be 

 a recommendation. 



As a distinct stem will be formed from every eye 

 or bud, and as planting a potato uncut would therefore 

 produce more stems crowded together than could find 

 room to grow, as well as very much weaken the new 

 tubers, by depriving them of the nourishment they ought 

 to receive, and exposing a greater surface of leaves to 

 the action of the atmosphere, which would necessarily 

 induce an increased evaporation ; it seems preferable, 

 two or three days before planting, to cut the sets, so as 

 to leave not more than two or three eyes to each, with a 

 rAece of the potato thick enough to nourish the stem till 

 it arrives above the surface of the ground. 



When uncut potatoes are used, as some prefer, all the 

 eyes but two or three ought to be scooped out, and they 

 must be planted at greater distances, to give room for the 



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