118 
SEED POTATOES. 
THE ADVANTAGES OF PLANTING A RELIABLE CHANGE. 
An aerial stem bearing tubers, a 
phenomenon which has been very 
prevalent in trials the past season. 
It is generally admitted that one of the most fruitful elements of the potato 
disease is supplied by a repeated growth year after year of the same stock of potatoes 
on the same land. 
Another danger frequently recurring is the gradual undermining of the con- 
stitution of the potato by injudicious selection, alternately resulting in a weakly, 
impoverished stock that too readily succumbs to the earliest attacks of the potato 
murrain. 
Too muc.h importance cannot be attached to this subject, and a change of 
seed is positively essential if a thoroughly reliable and superior crop is expected. 
Our Stocks have been grown and selected with the utmost vigilance, and under 
normal conditions of soil and situation will produce first-class crops. 
Our Crops are especially grown for seed purposes ; that is to say, they are not 
over-fed for the sake of producing enormous tubers. They are kept true to name and 
description, and arc not lifted until thoroughly ripe. 
We go to this trouble and expense with a view to make our potatoes as 
disease-resisting as the season will permit. 
We grow potatoes in England and Scotland, on the chalk in Kent, on 
the sand in Bedfordshire, on the rich warp-lands in Lincolnshire, so that we possess the 
advantages of supplying a distinct change of seed to every customer. 
We do not list several of the rank-growing new varieties which need too much 
space in ordinary gardens, neither do we catalogue others in which we can find no 
merits. 
One of the constantly recurring questions put to us by our customers each year is 
“ which may be considered the best varieties of potatoes for First Early, 
Mid-Season, and Main Crop respectively ? ” To answer this it would be necessary to 
be acquainted with the characteristics of the soil in every garden and the tastes of ever) 
grower. Some potatoes lake more kindly to a particular soil than others, but those 
w ho have tried several of our w'ell-known varieties have proved which potato suits their 
soil and culinary requirements, and, acting on the axiom of “ find a friend to keep a 
friend, ” continue to grow' the same variety year after year. 
This practice is a good one providing that a constant change of seed tubers is 
maintained, though it tends to increase the list of popular varieties from the number of 
which it is difficult to make a selection of the best. 
Many years of close observation, however, of potato culture under varying soil and 
climatic conditions, together with the results of our own trials at Rayncs Park and 
Forest Ilill, and the confirmatory reports we receive from time to time from customers 
in all parts of the country, have enabled us to mention the three undermentioned 
varieties as the best and most suitable for general purposes. 
THREE BEST POTATOES. 
First Early. — “Carters Early Favourite.” Award of Merit, R.H.S, 
(See page 120.) 
Mid-Season. — “Carters Royalty.” Awarded Silver Medal for best 
white potato at the National Show. ( See page 122.) 
Main Crop. — “Carters Longkeeper.” Award of Merit, R.H.S. 
(See page 125.) 
(Par/icu/ai s and prices will be found on the following pages.) 
CARTERS HAND-PICKED SEED POTATOES. 
During March and April our season’s supplies become much reduced, and we are often quite sold 
out of particular varieties. It is always our endeavour to send something likely to give satisfaction in place 
of any we may not have available. 
Seedsmen by Appointment to His Majesty the King — High Hoi born, London * 
