POT 
POT 
Forcing potatoes is a very general prac¬ 
tice in most private establishments, and 
some market gardens. It is generally 
begun early in February, though they 
may be easily grown at an earlier period; 
a mild hot-bed is required, with a steady, 
uniform temperature of about 60°, 
which may be formed of stabel-dung and 
leaves in about equal quantities. If the 
tubers can be previously started in any 
warm place it will save the trouble ol 
lining the hot-bed, and render them so 
much earlier; the sets should be whole, 
and planted about nine inches apart, 
covering them with three inches of light, 
rich mould, which must be added as the 
plants grow, in proportion to their pro¬ 
gress. As the object here is to obtain 
a limited number of fine tubers, it will 
be found advantageous to remove all 
the shoots that may rise, except only 
the strongest one; where more are sui- 
fered to grow there will be more tubers, 
but they will be smaller. Of course 
the temperature must be kept up through 
the plant’s progress by the aid of linings 
of fresh dung round the outside, it requi¬ 
site, and by covering the sashes with 
mats at night, at the same time plenty 
of air must be given, whenever possible, 
in order to keep the plants vigorous. 
The production of new varieties from 
seed is a matter of such ease, and the 
number that may be had in a single 
season so great, even by one individual, 
that it is no wonder there are sorts 
which possess a high value in the locali¬ 
ties they are derived from, and yet are 
next to unknown by the generality ot 
growers; it is probable there are thou¬ 
sands of kinds possessing some peculia¬ 
rities which seem to distinguish them 
among those who are familiar with them, 
and that are grown for a time and be¬ 
come exhausted or lost; with such we 
cannot enter on a description, and must 
therefore rest content with a list of 
some of the more prominent kinds that 
have been widely cultivated, and are 
known to be good. First, however, ye 
may briefly state the mode of raising 
potatoes from seed, especially as it has 
been recommended, in order to obtain 
kinds that shall be perfectly clear of 
any taint of the disease so destructive 
to this useful root. Many of the best 
kinds are found to be shy bloomers, and 
in order to ensure seed of the kind de¬ 
scribed it is often necessary to remove 
the tubers forming at the root; this in¬ 
duces the plant to bloom, and when the 
consequent seed-vessels, or apples, as 
they are called, are ripe or nearly so, 
they may be taken from the haulm, and 
being gently pressed, to squeeze out the 
water, may be dried on sheets ot soft 
paper; the seeds may then be easily 
cleared out of the refuse, and being kept 
in bags through the winter, will be fit 
for sowing in the following February 
or March. If accommodation can be 
afforded in the shape of frames for the 
nursing of the young plants, the seed 
should be sown at the earliest period 
on a gentle heat, which will speedily 
bring them up, and when an inch high 
they should be pricked into boxes of 
convenient size to stand in the 1 rallies, 
placing the young plants three or four 
inches one from another, and alter 
guarding them from frost and cold, and 
gradually inuring them to the open air, 
they may be transferred to the ground 
as soon as danger from frost is past: 
here their subsequent treatment will be 
the same as that for mature plants; or, 
where so much attention cannot be 
afforded them, the seed may be sown in 
March, in drills three inches deep, where 
the plants are to grow, and afterwards 
thinned to a foot apart, leaving the 
strongest to form the crop : when grown 
in this manner, the ground selected 
should be in a sheltered situation and 
have been well worked, and in the after 
management every facility must be 
afforded the plants in their progress, or 
there will not be time for them to ripen 
their tubers, and another season’s atten¬ 
tion must be expended before a proper 
estimate can be made ol the produce. 
By raising them in frames, the plants 
are several weeks more forward, and 
there is every chance for them to attain 
their best, and afterwards to thoroughly 
mature the roots, so that their several 
characters may be as accurately deter¬ 
mined the first season as alter twenty 
