104 
SEED POTATOES. 
THE ADVANTAGES OF PLANTING A RELIABLE CHANGE. 
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 constitution 
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 much 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 
are 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 every grower. Some potatoes take 
more kindly to a particular soil than others, but those who 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 Bromley, Forest Hill, 
Mortlake (which this year amount to no less than 263 plots), have enabled us to mention the 
three undermentioned varieties as the best and most suitable for general purposes. 
First Early. — “ Carters Early Favourite.” Award of Merit, R.H.S. 
Mid-Season.— “ Ca rters Royalty." Awarded Silver Medal for best white potato 
at the National Show. 
Main Crop. — “Carters Longkeeper.” Award of Merit, R.H.S. 
{Particulars and prices will be found on the following pages.) 
FRANCO- BRITISH EXHIBITION, 1908. 
Silver Medal and First Prize for Potatoes (12 varieties). Highest Award in Competitive 
Class, open to French and British Exhibitors. 
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 
n. »y not have available. 
237 238, & 97, High Holborn, London.— 1900. 
