THE POTATO. 



643 



the section somewhat downwards : each eye will thus have a fair proportion 

 of substance till the crown only is left of similar size to the other pieces ; 

 but here the eyes are generally too much crowded, and therefore all the 

 eyes, except one or two, should be pared off. The sets should have been 

 previously cut and exposed to the air for two or three days, to dry up the 

 moisture of the wound. They should be planted in rows two feet, or two 

 feet and a-half wide, and from six inches to eight inches apart in the row, 

 according to the richness of the soil and the vigour of the sort ; and about 

 six inches deep. The best time in the climate of London is (1407) the first 

 week of March, if the soil and the weather are suitable, or a week or more 

 later, if they are otherwise. They may either be planted in the Lancashire 

 manner (1409), in drills drawn six inches deep, or in holes made by the 

 potato dibber (fig. 17, in p. 131). They require no further culture than 

 stirring the soil between the rows, keeping it clear of weeds, and drawing the 

 earth up to the stems to the height of three inches or four inches above the 

 general surface ; not, however, in a narrow ridge, as is sometimes done, but 

 in a broad rounded ridge, thereby providing soil for covering the tubers that 

 may be protruded into it from the stem ; and pinching off the blossom buds 

 as soon as they appear. The crop will be fit to gather when the leaves and 

 the points of the shoots have begun to decay. They may either be wholly 

 taken up and stored in a cellar, or m a ridge (1152), or left in the ground 

 covered with litter, and taken up through the winter as wanted (857). For 

 potatoes to be used before March this is an excellent mode ; but at that 

 season they generally begin to grow, and then recourse must be had to such 

 as have been covered, so as to retard vegetation. (See 1416.) 



1413. Young potatoes during winter are obtained by the following modes : 

 In Cornwall the sets are planted in October ; they spring up a few weeks 

 afterwards, are ready before the autumnal frost stops Uieir growth, and the 

 soil being covered with litter, to exclude the frost, they are begun to be used 

 about the end of December, and continue in use till May, when they are 

 succeeded by the spring -planted crops. Of late years Covent-garden market 

 has received supplies of early potatoes from Cornwall, treated in the above 

 manner (G. ikT., vols. ii. v. vi.) In various parts of the country young 

 potatoes for the table during winter are thus produced ; — Large potatoes 

 are picked out from the winter stock of any early variety, and buried 

 in dry soil to the depth of three feet. This depth, and the circum- 

 stance of treading the soil firmly over the potatoes, so far exclude both 

 heat and air as to prevent vegetation. About the middle of July following, 

 take the tubers out of the pit, and pick out all the buds except a good one 

 in the middle of the potato. Plant these potatoes in a dry border sloping to 

 the south, the soil being in good condition, but not manured. Place the eye 

 or bud of each potatoe uppermost, and as their growth will be rapid at this 

 season, earth them up carefully, to preserve their stems from the wind. 

 About the end of October the young potatoes formed by the plants will 

 average the size of pigeon's eggs, and all that is now required to be done is, 

 to cover them well up with long litter, to preserve them from the frost. 

 During winter they may be dug up as wanted, and their delicate waxy taste 

 will resemble that of new potatoes {G. ikf., vol. viii. p. 56). Mr. Knight 

 procured a crop of young tubers by planting large ones in September ; not a 

 single shoot from these tubers appeared above the soil, but a portion of the 

 matter of the old tuber was merely transformed into young ones, as frequently 



