THE FORCING GARDEN. 



629 



tumn, from those which only appear so, would be difficult. 

 The idea, therefore, presents itself of planting potatoes ex- 

 pressly for that use, which must be done at a later period than 

 this vegetable is generally planted, let us say two months 

 later, in June instead of April. 



" When the general crop is matured and gathered in October, 

 those will be still in their young state, their grain will be still 

 fine, and their texture close ; and if thus taken up, and pre- 

 served, according to the method suggested, it can hardly be 

 presumed that, when brought to the table in winter, they will 

 be greatly different in quality from that when they were 

 gathered. They will in every respect be young potatoes, pro- 

 bably not much inferior, if at all, to those raised on a hot-bed ; 

 for it does not appear that this mode of keeping them has 

 any effect in promoting their maturity, at least not to any per- 

 ceptible degi'ee. The sand employed should be of as barren 

 a nature as can be procured, and, if possible, contain little or 

 nothing of the vegetable stimulus. When the tubers are taken 

 out of the ground previously to their maturity, they will not 

 readily sprout, or emit roots, which circumstance is a security 

 for the success of the method in question." 



Undoubtedly, by this late planting, waxy potatoes will be 

 produced, because they are not fully ripe; but planting in 

 June will not produce a crop of potatoes, at all similar in size 

 or consistency, to be mistaken for young ones in winter. The 

 laws of nature in this respect are curious : it is wonderful to 

 see the exertions made by her to hurry forward, to overtake 

 such of the children of her care, as may, either by accident or 

 design, be detained behind their compeers. It is a well known 

 fact, that many plants, natives of Alpine regions, spring up 

 quite perfect in their structure, produce flowers and seeds, and 

 mature the same in the short space of as many days, as the 

 same species of plant, cultivated in our gardens, do in as many 

 weeks. The practice, in some parts of England, is not to 

 plant the general crops of potatoes till June, still they are far 

 from being small, or like young forced potatoes. 



Where potatoes are planted in frames or pits, sow thinly a 

 little short-topped radish. They will come in for use before 

 the potatoes will be injured by them, and will be making the 



