Experiments on the Growth of Potatoes. 
159 
Lot 2. Planted during the first week of December. Wimborne 
kidneys and ash-leaf kidneys ; both sorts have come up regu- 
larly, and are looking exceedingly well. 
Both these lots were cut down by the frost to about 1^ inch 
below the surface of the ground ; in both cases the plants rallied, 
and grew afresh with vigour. Upon examination it has been 
found that there were two lots of young tubers; the largest and 
fewest in number are from the first shoots, the smallest and most 
numerous are from the new shoots, and very near the surface ; a 
system of roots had proceeded from the shoots at the point where 
the effects of the frost had ceased, and the tubers there will ex- 
ceed in quantity the lower tubers. 
The potatoes planteci in a box in October, in dry heat, produced 
five successive crops of sprouts from each eye of each potato ; the 
four first crops of shoots taken from tubers planted in the box 
in the hot-house, and taken off in February, March, and April, 
ffrew most vigorously and well, but have since all rotted off with 
the disease. They were planted m a pit, with brick walls, and 
since found to be imperfectly drained, but in fresh and healthy 
soil ; and it must have been owing to the warm moisture retained 
in the pit that the disease affected them. The fifth and last crop 
of shoots taken from the same tubers in the hot-house, and planted 
in the open garden, well drained, is looking exceedingly well, and 
grows fast. The tubers from which all the above were pilfered 
were taken from the hot-house and planted by the side of their 
progeny in the garden, which they outstrip in their healthy look 
and vigour of growth. The potatoes grown in pits for early con- 
sumption were sound and good yvhere the drainage was perfect, 
particularly in the pits whose sides were of turf. In the pit with 
brick walls and imperfect drainage the haulm was much diseased, 
and one-fourth of the produce unfit for food. The tubers most 
diseased were at the lower part of the ])it where the soil was most 
wet, and where little sun could penetrate. 
Particulars of Potatoes planted in the field in the early part of 
April, 1846. 
Lot 1. 7 drills of late white potatoes. 
With regard to this lot as with all the others (except Lot 5, 
which was planted with whole sets, and Lot 3, which was planted 
with the eyes scooped out of the potato), the potato sets were 
cut into large-sized pieces, planted in well-prepared ground, 
thrown up into Northumberland ridges, and well mnnured with 
farm-yard dung. The sets were put in at the usual depth, and 
in the ordinary way, over the manure. The plants have come 
up vigorously and well, and promise a good crop. 
Lot 2. 25 drills of Porchester potatoes. 
