50 
POTATOES AND FRUIT TREES. 
“ I venture to hope, that a publication of the means of obtaining 
such varieties, and a dispersion of such new mode, will he produc¬ 
tive of much public benefit.” 
The act of picking off the blossoms, as soon as they are formed, 
has been found highly beneficial; but it is much better that the 
plant should throw them off by an act of its own.—22nd November, 
1830. 
“ I am engaged in experiments upon potatoes, which interests me 
very much, because, I am certain, that the culture of that plant pre¬ 
sents the means of raising vastly more animal food than the culture 
of any other. I had a crop dug up three days ago, of a new and early 
variety, just obtained from seed, (in which state it is, I think, much 
more productive,) in the presence of several farmers and gardeners; 
and accurately weighed, when the produce per acre was found to be 
964 bushels of 80 lbs. each, and 64 lbs. over; or 34 tons. 8 cwt. 
3 qrs . 25 lbs. and I do not entertain any doubt of being able, if I 
live long enough to gain proper varieties, of raising 1000 bushels, 
of 80 lbs. from an acre of ground. And I am further very confi¬ 
dently of opinion, that if the crop of potatoes be wholly consumed 
upon the ground, or the whole manure produced by them, if eaten 
by animals, be returned to tbe soil, that will grow annually richer, 
and be capable of affording still better crops.—29th Sept. 1832.” 
Whilst I am upon the important subject of the potatoe, I beg here 
to remark, that the method quoted on page 754 of vol. 1, and 
there called an American mode, is only more productive than the 
one in common practice, upon Mr. Knight’s plan: that is, by the 
exposure of the largest possible surface of foliage to the light and 
influence of the atmosphere, and of keeping the soil round the tubers, 
and roots as loose as consistently may be done. The practice of 
loosening the soil round the plants is more attended to in Hereford¬ 
shire, and the contiguous parts of the surrounding counties, than I 
have elsewhere seen; but there they omit one most important part 
of the business, by planting too late ; and therefore allowing the tu¬ 
bers to expend themselves before planting, which is a point that Mr. 
Knight is very careful to guard against, by every means he can de¬ 
vise; and it is undoubtedly one point of management of the greatest 
importance towards the success of the future crops. 
I now beg your indulgence to allow me a small space for a reply 
to the Journeyman Gardener, but who, I am persuaded, by his man¬ 
ner of writing, has not yet passed out of his apprenticeship, for if he 
had, his small experience in life alone would have taught him a lit¬ 
tle more modesty in his manners and opinions, than to lead him to 
