322 
THE FLORIST. 
to come forward who have proofs, acquired by their own experience, of 
the causes of success, partial or otherwise, for complete success is hardly 
to be expected. 
In the first place, respecting sets. We prefer large Potatoes cut 
into two or more sets, with a couple of eyes in each. Where this 
trenches into the stock of eating Potatoes too much, we next prefer 
good sized seed, cutting out all the eyes but two of the strongest, for 
more shoots than two to a root produce for certain a larger number 
of small tubers, but the bulk of marketable produce will not be so 
large. 
If possible to prevent it, never allow the Potatoes for planting to 
grow before planting time. Do not pit them, but keep them rather 
thin in a shed, barn, or any situation where they can be protected from 
frost, but in other respects kept as cool as possible. If they show 
indications of sprouting long before planting time, have the sprouts 
rubbed off a month previous, that the second buds may be swelled and 
ready to push again as soon as they are committed to the soil; it makes 
the crop a fortnight later in coming up when disbudded just at planting 
time, which is sometimes done. 
Sorts to Plant. — Early kinds. —Soden’s Early Oxford ; Ashleaf 
Kidney; Red Kidney, an excellent flavoured kind ; Golden Dwarf 
Second Earlies. —Lapstone Kidney ; Forty-fold; and American 
Native, called Snowball by some. The first-named is the tenderest, 
but perhaps the highest-flavoured Potato grown. 
Late kinds. —Regents; Flukes; a kind sometimes called Farmer’s, 
or Oxford Reds; and Wellingtons—the latter a rather new kind. 
We have named only what we grow ourselves and can vouch for; 
there are, doubtless, other good kinds in different localities. 
Soil. —This must positively be a dry one, to begin with ; the least 
dampness in the soil, whether caused by want of draining—a retentive 
subsoil not permitting rain-water to pass off freely—or land springs, 
must be avoided. The best soils we know are dry calcareous or marly 
loams. On these the Potatoes are always mealy and high-flavoured. 
Next, sandy loams, on a gravelly or brashy subsoil, permitting the 
rapid escape of water. Next, any moderate sandy soil which is dry. 
Clayey soils should not be thought of; nor yet confined, low, or shady 
places. We again repeat, the exposure should be an open one and the 
soil dry, with the crop planted in lines running north and south, or 
near those points. 
Next, as to manure. Last month we stated that on lands highly 
enriched with manure the crop had failed; in so many places do we 
find this the case, that it may be termed a general one. Still, as even 
a moderate crop of Potatoes can only be obtained by means of manure, 
it must be applied, for newly broken up turf ground is equally fatal to 
the crop as land over manured. Therefore, when farm -yard manure 
must be applied, spread it over the land by February, and allow it to 
remain on the surface till the ground is further prepared in March, or 
when the manure is very rank it may be thrown over the land before 
Christmas; most of its fertilising properties will be washed into the 
ground, and the remainder will have become sweetened by exposure. 
