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MAY. . 143 
well mix it by turning, than'to put the dung upon the Potato when 
planted. The great advantage of early planting is this:—That the 
tuber is not weakened in constitution by growing out, and further, if 
the tops are cut down by spring frosts, which will probably be the 
case, still the plant extends its roots ; and the effect is, that you get as 
many Potatoes in number, though not so large as they would have been 
if unchecked ; and they are more likely to be sound, because more ripe 
when the blight sets in. The only Potato here, cut by the blight, that 
showed no disease in the tubers, was given to me by a blind man, who 
called it the ‘“‘rough red,” a white Potato, tinged about its deep eyes 
with pink ; it is a good late eating Potato. I have planted the Dalmahoy 
aud Prizetaker with several other sorts, and as far as appearance goes, 
I like them much; they both cut sound and firm. Flukes, Breadfruits, 
and Fortyfolds, are excellent Potatoes for a gentleman’s table; for poor 
people, who have many mouths to fill, the Karly Dugdale is best. The 
Red Ashleaf is also a good Potato, and was sent to me as one that 
would resist the blight, but it was more affected than any other 
here; it is a very heavy cropper, very good looking, and large. I gave 
it with the Guernsey Blue and ‘‘ rough red” to Mr. Gloede to take to 
France. To eat early, and ‘till new Potatoes arrive, I know nothing 
equal to Salmon Kidneys; they are firm and yet mealy; they are also 
perfectly good up to the time of new Potatoes. The best way to protect 
Ashleats is to cover them with troughs, like the roof of a house, raising 
them at both ends with bricks, as the stalks grow ; keep them dry, and 
no frost will hurt them; earthing them also day by day, when the 
weather is severe, is alsoa great help. All mine, this spring, were 
planted the first week in March. I have always observed that the blight 
seizes the Potatoes after the heavy July rains. It is, therefore, my aim 
to get them ripe as soon as possible. The wet, no doubt, produces the 
development of the pre-existent disease. In one word, early sorts, 
early planting, and hastening them to maturity, is your best chance. 
Late sorts, or late planted Potatoes, if the disease seizes them, or is 
developed in them, are neither fit for food or seed. 1 am determined 
this year to force my Potatoes on in the drought of early summer by 
watering. Some ranks in each plot I shall leave unwatered, or the 
trial may be worth nothing. I shall, moreover, dust some of them well 
with soot. IfI see any advantage, I will report thereon; but— 
‘‘ Britannia’s emblem is the Rose, 
There is no other flower 
Hath half the beauties that adorn 
This beauty of the bower.” 
Let me mention a curious thing here with regard to Isabella Gray ; 
covered only over her roots with tiles she has retained the whole of last 
year’s foliage ; she is in the angle of a north-west wall, and faces south- 
east. All the Teas, covered only over their roots with tiles or glass, 
have wintered perfectly well; it is more essential to cover their roots 
and keep them perfectly dry than to cover their heads. Where the 
tiles and glass were, you could, in the hardest frost, thrust your finger 
into the ground easily; whereas, beyond them, you could make no 
impression with an iron bar. The Tea Roses were Adam, Bougere, 
