fi4^ THE PRACTICAL GARDENER. [Oc/. 



pect that a gi'eater portion of better prepared fecula abounds 

 in them, than in such as are taken up before they are fully 

 ripened. Such, however, as are intended for seed, it has been 

 stated, should not be allowed to become too ripe, as, in that 

 case, they are more subject to the disease called the curl, 

 which is often very detrimental to the crops. In taking up 

 potatoes, whether for eating or seed, it cannot be denied that 

 by fur too little attention has been paid to keep each sort 

 separate. Cultivators, generally, make little distinction be- 

 tween the kinds, no farther than merely keeping such as they 

 term early potatoes, separate from the late ones. But, amongst 

 the latter, there are many varieties better calculated for keep- 

 ing than others ; these should be kept separate, and those 

 sorts used first, which are not found to keep so well. It is 

 necessary that they should be taken up when the ground is 

 perfectly dry, more particularly in damp strong soils, and 

 either housed in places for the purpose, or piled up on dry 

 ground in a conical form, and covered a foot thick with sti'aw, 

 and then a foot of mould placed over it, leaving the surface of 

 the whole as smooth as possible, the better to throw otf the 

 rain. This is the general practice in Scotland, where much 

 attention is paid to this valuable root. But we have seen, in 

 chalky countries, excellent potato-houses cut out of the solid 

 chalk, in situations where there was no chance of their being 

 injured by damp or under-water, such houses being roofed 

 over, and the roof only being above the surface, preserved them 

 well for a great length of time. In such houses, there are 

 often separate divisions formed of boards, into which the 

 potatoes are placed, each kind by itself, and were potatoes 

 buried in deep wells sunk on purpose, and perfectly dry, they 

 might, probably, be kept for some months longer than in the 

 usual ways. 



TAKING UP CARROTS. 



Carrots, when left too long in the oround, are liable in some 

 soils to be attacked by worms ; for this reason, and their 

 being more readily got at during winter, they are taken up 

 at this time. In taking them up, they should not be broken 

 nor Nvo'inded with the tools employed for that purpose. Their 



