JUNE. 
128 
own experience has led me to think that sometimes inferences are too hastily 
drawn from successful experiments. A series of experiments may for one 
or two favourable seasons give very satisfactory results; but to make them 
of any value they should also be continued through two or three unfavour¬ 
able seasons, and if the results are equally satisfactory then, their importance 
cannot be doubted. All experiments should be repeated for several seasons 
before the results are reported. 
I will not trouble your readers with the details or results of any of the 
experiments I have myself tried, but, instead, I will offer a few very simple 
remarks on the culture of Potatos in gardens. 
The following are the principal points to be attended to :—1st, The Best 
Soil; 2nd, Trenching the Soil; 8rd, The Sets ; 4th, The Time for Planting ; 
5th, The Varieties to Grow; and 6th, General Bemarks. 
The Best Soil .—In general a light fresh sandy loam is the best for the 
grow T th of the Potato when fine flavour and mealiness are required. On 
heavy or wet lands many kinds become watery or waxy, and are very unfit 
for table use. The soil for Potatos should neither be too stiff and untract- 
able, nor too light and crumbling, yet rather of the crumbling kind; neither 
too poor, nor too rich, yet inclining to richness ; neither quite dry, nor yet 
surcharged with moisture. Perhaps in no part of the country are finer 
Potatos grown than on the “ warp” land (chiefly a sandy deposit), on the 
banks of the river Ouse. The Selby Potatos always command the highest 
prices in Leeds, Manchester, and other markets. 
Trenching the Soil .—I consider this a point of the first importance. A 
good depth of soil is absolutely necessary to grow Potatos well. From long 
practical experience I am convinced that trenching at least 2 feet deep is 
the best preparation of the soil for Potatos, and that crops will in general 
thus be obtained, better in quality and more abundant in quantity, than by 
any other mode of culture. Trenching the ground is not a preventive of 
the murrain, though I have never found Potatos to rot worse on trenched 
land than on land not trenched, but rather the contrary, as the soil when 
trenched, being more open, is generally drier and warmer than land simply 
dug; neither is it so much affected by sudden changes of the weather. I 
am aware that trenching the land for Potatos is but seldom practised, but 
I can confidently recommend it; and any persons about to plant a rood of 
ground, if they would trench one half, and dig and manure the other half 
as usual, and plant the whole with the same kind of Potatos, treating them 
in all other respects alike, would be convinced by one trial how beneficial 
trenching is to this crop. 
The Sets. —Moderate-sized whole sets are in general to be preferred, and 
care should be taken not to leave more than one or two stems to each set, 
as when all are left to grow they become so crowded that the leaves do not 
properly perform their office, and in consequence the quality of the Potatos 
will be inferior. 
Time for Planting .—Generally any time from the' middle of March to the 
end of April, or the early part of May. When the soil is in a nice dry work¬ 
ing condition the sooner they are planted the better, but the weather will 
sometimes prevent the planting being done as soon as would otherwise 
be desirable. The sets should always be planted in rows varying from 
18 to 36 inches apart, and from 8 to 16 inches in the rows, according 
to the size, and the nature of the soil. They should also be planted at a 
depth varying from 4 to 6 or 8 inches, according to the kind. After they 
are planted, the soil should be kept well stirred between the rows, to keep 
