121 
TH-E COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, NoVbmbek 22, 1858. 
Potatoe ; for, like corn, and some other things, it is 
made to do service from the fix-st of January to the end 
ol December. But, unlike bread, it presents us with 
more forms than one. A young Potatoe and au old one 
are often widely different in their eating qualities. The 
latter are, doubtless, the most useful. But young 
Potatoes are so much looked after by some that many 
attempts have been made to have them at all times of 
the year. And some have accomplished this by a sort of 
clandestine way, which. is meant to cheat the palate into 
the belief that old Potatoes are young ones. 
The way this is done is, by retarding the growth of 
certain kinds of Potatoes (for some kinds answer better 
than others) until the season is too far gone for their 
ripening, and then to call the half-grown, half-matured 
produce “ young Potatoes.” gome people, who are 
willing dupes to this deception, fancy these retarded 
Potatoes as good as new ones, and “young ones” they 
arc called. Be this as it may, it is only necessary here 
to describe how it is accomplished. 
Unlike the seed of a vegetable, or tree, the tubers of a 
Potatoe will not keep much longer than from the period 
of its storing away to the following July ; and before 
then its efforts to shoot have deprived it of much of its 
stored-up juices, so that by then it does not weigh more 
than one-half its original weight, and goes on decreasing 
(the shoots being supposed to be broken off as it makes 
them), until at length it becomes finally exhausted, and a 
withered object is all that it presents. But, supposing it 
to have been planted in the ground in the ordinary way 
by the beginning or middle of July, a crop of more or 
less abundance is the result. The growth being rapid, 
the produce for a time is, doubtless, “ young Potatoes ” in 
the full sense of the word. But supposing them to be 
dug up immediately, and another set of old Potatoes put 
in,—say, by the first of September,—the growth is not 
so rapid then, and the produce has no chance to harden, 
and become what is called ripe, before dull, cold weather 
sets in. Hence, they are called young Potatoes all the 
winter, and are dug up as wanted from the cold ground. 
Certain kinds in certain soils cat tolerably w T cll grown 
this way ; but, generally, the system is less practised 
than it was twenty years ago ; the desire to have really 
young Potatoes having superseded that of being satisfied 
with an article differing from those in ordinary use at 
the time, which “retarded ones” really are. Never¬ 
theless, some even give a preference to the latter, and it 
is only right and fair that their taste should be duly 
honoured. And the retarding process has some advan¬ 
tages, of which the possessor of a small plot of ground 
will, no doubt, be glad to avail himself, if the article 
wanted be Potatoes of the kind mentioned. 
As an example, let us suppose a quantity of Potatoes 
stored away in a cellar, of the Lapstone or Fluke variety, 
or any other (for each have their particular merits and 
adaptability to certain places). These being stored away 
in a cool cellar, in spring may have the shoots picked from 
them as they are made, and may be frequently turned 
over. Nevertheless, new shoots are formed, which, when 
of an unwieldy and entangling length, may be taken off 
again, the root each time being so much lighter, that by 
the end of June a quantity may be planted, or even 
sooner. These grow rapidly, and arc lit for use a short 
time after planting. A fortnight or three weeks after, 
another crop may be planted from the same original 
stock ; and others in succession, until the beginning of 
September, after which those produced are so small, that 
they are hardly worth cultivating in an ordinary way. 
All these plantations must be from the old original stock, 
varied only, if necessary, by the kind in most esteem in 
the neighbourhood for such a purpose ; as it is difficult 
to give general instructions in this matter, soil and situa¬ 
tion exercising so much influence on this head. These 
repeated plantings, to furnish Potatoes in a half-grown 
Ante, effecting their object in so short a time in the hot 
months of summer, the same ground may bo made to 
produce several crops of Potatoes the same year; but, in ■ 
a general way, it is better to change it each time ; 
although I have heard of some parties having had four 
or five crops of Potatoes on the same ground in one 
season. However, it must be evident to everyone that 
changed ground would be better. In hot, dry weather, 
copious waterings will be of service. 
It is difficult to recommend a variety that will answer 
in all places. A few years ago, Chapman s Kidney was 
much recommended for this purpose; but it did not 
answer at all in some soils. I have even seen Regents do 
better, so much depends on soil, situation, and other cir¬ 
cumstances. One thing, however, must be borne in 
mind, that those which are planted late in summer, to 
take up during the following winter, ought to be on dry, 
light ground, if possible. Otherwise, worms and other 
enemies will prey on the young crop. In severe weather, 
they must be covered up, to keep them from the frost,—a 
quantity for a few days consumption being previously 
taken up and kept in damp earth in a cool place. 
The other points in their culture will suggest them¬ 
selves to everyone. They need not have quite so large a 
space between the rows as those planted in spring for the 
important crop, and in very dry weather they will re¬ 
quire frequent and abundant watering. It is only proper 
to observe here, that the sets planted ought to form a 
supply grown in the ordinary way. But instead of the 
small ones being reserved for that purpose, as is usually 
the case, only the large ones are fit for very late work : 
the small ones, becoming weakened by repeated sprout- 
ings and removings, are no longer possessed of sufficient 
vigour to insure a fair, good crop. Hence, it will be 
seen, that this mode of obtaining “ young Potatoes ” is, 
to a certain extent, extravagant. But, to those who like 
the article, this may be of small importance. 
Next week, however, I hope to say something about 
young Potatoes, properly so called. J. Hobson. 
THE BOSE. 
I, as well as others, have already, in The CotTAGE Gau- 
benek, written largely on the culture of the Rose ; and, there¬ 
fore, to its pages I refer the reader who may possess that 
work from its commencement; yet, as many of our friends may 
not have the volumes containing these instructions, I will 
endeavour to give a few condensed remarks, which will at 
least be seasonable. Now is a good time to perform several 
operations, and also to purchase Rose trees. I shall, therefore, 
dilate a little on what is necessary to ba done now, and give a few 
notices, with names of the best new sorts, and a selection of such 
as have been proved to be first-rate varieties, which every culti¬ 
vator forming a collection may safely order. 
Soil .—The question is often asked,—What is the best situation 
and soil for the Rose ? I answer,—Roses do not thrive well in 
either a too wet or a too dry situation. In low, swampy ground 
it will be necessary to drain effectually, and to raise the ground 
for the Roses above the general level of the place, concreting the 
position for each tree, so that the roots cannot get down into the 
wet subsoil. It will not do to stick them in, giving manure, &c., 
in such a situation, in the vain hope that perhaps they may grow. 
On the other hand, if the Rose must be grown in a shallow soil, 
with a gravelly subsoil, or perhaps rocky limestone, equal care 
must be bestowed to counteract the bad situation. In such a 
case, the subsoil must be excavated, and the soil deepened, or in 
dry summers the leaves will be covered with mildew, and the 
trees will neither grow nor flower well. These evils may bo 
avoided, by, as I said before, deepening the soil and mulching 
tho sutface with short manure, or even a covering of pebble 
stones or moss. Where, however, the soil i3 a rather strong, 
friable loam, from a foot to eighteen inches deep, with a subsoil 
of well-drained clay, the Rose will thrive with ordinary care, and 
may be planted largely. 
In all these cases skill and judicious management is necessary. 
At this season of the year, as soon as the leaves have fallen, ex¬ 
amine every troe. Such as appear sickly, and are making but 
