THE COTTAGE GAEDENEE AND COUNTEY GENTLEMAN’S COMPANION, September 29, 1857. 403 
WEEKLY CALENDAR. 
D 
M 
Weather near London in 
1856. 
Clock 
af. Sun. 
Day of 
Year. 
D 
W 
SEPT. 29 —OCT. 5, 1857. 
Barometer. 
Thermo. 
Wind. 
Rain in 
Inches. 
Sun 
Rises. 
Sun 
Sets. 
Moon 
R.& S. 
Moon’s 
Age. 
29 
Tu 
Michaelmas Day. 
29.449—29.137 
63—40 
S.W. 
02 
59 a. 5 
42 a. 5 
morn. 
11 
9 44 
272 
30 
W 
Ivy (Hedera). 
29789—29.566 
65—41 
s.w. 
02 
VI 
39 
1 20 
12 
10 3 
273 
I 
Th 
African Marigold. 
29.818—29.796 
64—42 
S.W. 
— 
3 
37 
2 45 
13 
10 22 
274 
2 
F 
French Marigold. 
29.820—29758 
67 — 5 O 
s. 
— 
A 
35 
4 11 
14 
10 41 
275 
3 
S 
Marvel ol Peru. 
29.803—29.737 
66—55 
s. 
10 
6 
32 
rises. 
© 
11 0 
276 
4 
Sun 
17 Sunday after Trinity. 
29.735-29.637 
66-56 
s.w. 
11 
7 
30 
5 a 39 
16 
11 18 
2 77 
5 
M 
Cockscomb. 
29.884—29.807 
63—42 
s.w. 
03 
9 
28 
5 57 
17 
11 36 
278 
Meteorology of the Week.— At Chiswick, from observations during the last twenty-eight years, the average hitrhest and lowest 
temperatures oi these days are 03.5°, and 43.3°, respectively. The greatest heat, 80°, occurred on the 5th, 
on the 2nd, in 1853. During the period 81 days were fine, and on 115 rain fell. 
in 1834 ; 
and the lowest cold, 27 °, 
THE POTATO AND ITS CULTURE. 
History. —The Potato, called Solarium tuberosum by 
botanists, is believed to be a native of Chili in South 
America, especially of the neighbourhood of Quito, 
where it is now found wild. 
It was first brought to Europe in the fifteenth century 
by the Spaniards, who cultivated it in Spain under the 
name of Battata. The Potato was not known in England 
until about a century later, being first brought hither 
from Virginia, and known then as “ Potatoes of America 
or of Virginia.” They were not cultivated here exten¬ 
sively until the latter part of the last century. 
Varieties. —We have now before us a list of more 
than one hundred and fifty varieties, and we have no 
doubt that if search were made as many more could be 
collected, for every district almost has some one favoured 
and peculiar sort. We shall only specify a few of the 
best, and which may be obtained readily. 
Early Varieties. L Walnut-leaved Kidney. —This is 
the earliest, for, if kept in a dry, cool cellar until the 
eyes are sprouted an inch in length, and are then planted 
in a south border, the young Potatoes will be fit for use 
some time in May. They are somewhat larger than a 
pigeon’s egg, and grow in a cluster close to the set. 
2. Ash-leaved Kidney. —Treated as the Walnut-leaved , 
as just mentioned, this is ready for taking up in June. 
It is a much larger and much more productive Potato 
than the Walnut-leaved. 
3. But, above all, a round white seedling Potato which 
wo have now cultivated for two years without having a 
single diseased tuber. We have named it The Onwards. 
Later Varieties. —We reject altogether from our list 
those which are very late before their tubers are ripe 
enough to take up for storing, because such very late 
varieties are the most liable to the murrain or “ disease ” 
which has of late years been so destructive of this 
vegetable. The produce of all the varieties in the follow¬ 
ing list is ready for storing by the end of July:— 
4. Forty-fold. —An oval, flattened, red Potato. 
5. Julys. —A round, white Potato. 
These are all prolific, good-keeping, and mealy; 
and whoever cultivates Nos. 1, 2, and 3 will have all 
the excellencies obtainable in the Potato. 
Modes oi Propagation. —Eor useful production the 
Potato is best propagated by sets, and there is no doubt 
that the best sets are middle-sized whole Potatoes. By 
middle-sized we mean those weighing from an ounce 
and a half to two ounces and a half. Of the Walnut¬ 
leaved variety one ounce Potatoes are a good size for 
the purpose. None of the eyes should be removed, for 
the Potato, at first, rarely pushes up more stems than 
are needful for the well-being of its produce. We say 
“ at first,” because, if the first stems are destroyed by 
frost, more stems succeed them, and these sometimes 
require thinning. 
When Potatoes for planting have to be procured from 
a distant place let that place be colder than the locality 
where they are to be planted. If had from a warmer 
district they either vegetate earlier or ripen their produce 
more imperfectly than is desirable. 
If each set weighs two ounces, and the sets are planted 
nine inches apart in each row, and the rows are at the 
distances mentioned in the following table, then will the 
number and weight required for an acre be as are there 
specified:— 
Number of sets 
per acre. 
Weight of sets per 
acre. 
Rows 18 inches apart.. 
38,720 
cwt. lbs, 
43 — 
55 19 5, 
36,682 
40 104 
55 2b 5> 
34,848 
38 97 
55 21 ,, 
33,188 
37 4 
>5 22 „ 
31,680 
35 40 
55 23 „ 
30,302 
33 88 
>5 24 „ 
29,040 
32 44 
55 25 
27,874 
31 12 
„ 26 
26,806 
£9 100 
5 , 27 
25,813 
28 88 
5 , 28 „ 
24,891 
27 84 
>5 29 „ 
24,033 
26 92 
55 30 „ 
23,232 
25 104 
There are various other modes of propagating the 
Potato, as by large tubers cut into sets; from single 
eyes scooped out from it; by thick pieces pared from it 
with an eye in each piece; and by cuttings of the 
stalks. By each of these modes a crop may be ob¬ 
tained, but it will be more liable to failure, and never 
so abundant as when moderate-sized whole Potatoes 
are used as sets. 
To obtain new varieties seed from well-ripened Potato 
berries, or “ Potato Apples,” as they are popularly called, 
must be employed. To obtain new varieties by this 
mode is necessary, because no variety of the Potato re¬ 
tains its good qualities longer than about fourteen years. 
The mode of proceeding is as follows:—■ 
Squeeze the pulpy contents of ripe Potato berries into 
a basin of clean water; mix the pulp squeezed out 
thoroughly with the water ; strain the mixture through 
a fine cloth or muslin; dry the seed retained by the 
cloth, and keep it wrapped in paper in a dry place until 
sowing time. This may be in a gentle hotbed in 
February. Sow in pots of light rich earth, covering 
the seed about one-eighth of an inch deep with some of 
the same earth. When the seedlings are an inch high 
plant them singly in small pots, disturbing the roots as 
little as possible, and place them under a frame, or other 
place where they can be kept moderately warm, with 
abundance of light. They must have as much air as the 
season will permit, and the soil be kept moderately 
moist. In the middle of May they may be turned out 
from the pots, and planted in the open ground without 
breaking the ball of earth. 
If you have no frame to sow in you must sow the seed 
in drills, covering it, as above directed, in some light 
rich soil early in April, and transplant the seedlings 
into similar soil during June. 
No. CCCCLXX. Vol. XVIII. 
