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beneath the soil, a ropvodiif tion of vigorous stems and foiiage soon takes place, when those first produced
are destroyed by frost, or other causes. He adds, “ when the planter is anxious to obtain a crop within
the least possible time, he will find the position in which the tubers are placed to vegetate by no means
a point of indifference; for these being shoots or branches, which have grown thick instead of elongating,
retain the disposition of branches to propel tiicir sap to their leading buds, or points most distant from
“ ........." plants of which they once formed parts. If the tubers be placeil with their leading buds
?ry strong and very early shoots will spring from th em ; but if their position be reversed,
many weaker and later shoots will be produced ; and not only the earliness, but the quality of tho produce,
in size, will be much affected.” (H o r t. T r a m ., vol. iv. p. 448.)
3612. Qu a n tity o f sets. In respect to proportioning tho quantity of sets to the space to be planted,
Abercrombie directs, “ for a plot of the ea rly and se condary crops, 8 ft. wide by 16 ft. in length, planted
in rows IT) in. asunder by 9 in. in the row, a quarter of a peck of roots or cuttings. T ot fu ll- tim e d sorts
a n d m a in crops, a corapartmont, 12 ft. wide by 32 ft. in length, planted in rows 2 ft. distant by 12 iu. in
the row, half a peck of roots or cuttings will be required.”
3613. S o il a n d m a n u r e . The best soil for tho potato is light, fresh, unmixed loam, where they can
be grown without manure. Here they have always the best llavour. In a wet soil, they grow sickly,
aud produce watery tubers, infected with wonns and other vermin. To a poor soil, dung must be
applied; littery dung will produce th e earliest and largest crop; but mellow dung, rotten loaves, or
vegetable earth, will least affect th e llavour of the tubers.
3614. Scaso7! fo r p la n iin g . Early cro p s in tho open air m ay b e planted either in th e autumn, and
treated as will afterwards be mentioned, or in March, after the sets have been forwarded in a warm
cellar, ov by other means. “ The last fortnight of March and first fortnight of April is the most proper
tunc for planting the main c ro p s; a little earlier or later, as the spring may be forward or late, the
ground dry or wet. Occasional plantings may be made in May, or even the beginning of June.” {A be r-
cro77ibie.)
3613. Methods o f p la n tin g . The sets of whatever kind, or th e plants forwarded in pots, to be turned
out with their balls entire for producing an early crop in the open air, should ahvays be inserted in
rogular rows ; the object of which is to admit witfi greater facility the stirring the earth between, and
tho earthing up of the plants. T h e rows m ay b e 15 in. apart for the small early sorts; and for the
larger, 20 in. or 2 ft., according to the poorness or richness of the soil. In the lines traced, make holes
for the sets a t 8, 12, or 15 in. distance, letting their depth not be less than 3 in., nor exceed 5 in.
3616. PlantiTig on a level su ifa c e will answer on a light soil. In small gardens, the planting may be
performed by a common large dibble with a blunt end. For planting considcrabie crops, a strong larger
dibble, about 1 j'd. long, is used, with a cross handle a t top for both hands, the lower end being generally
shod with iron, ancl having a short cross iron shoulder about 4 in. or 5 in. from the bottom, as a guide
to make the holes of an equal d ep th ; one person striking the holes, and a boy directly dropping a set
into each hole. Strike the earth in upon them fully with a dibble, hoe, or rake, either as each row is
planted, or when the whole planting is finished. Sometimes the process is to open a small hole with
the spade, and to drop in a set, which set is covered in by the opening o fth e next hole.
3617. On s l7-ong h ea v y la n d , the planting ought to be on raised beds with alleys, or in drills on the
crown of parallel ridges. The beds may either be raised by previous digging, throwing on good earth
till the terrace rise to the desired height, or in the; different method described below. To plant in drills,
trace them at the medium distance above specified: form them to the proper depth with a narrow spade
or large h o e : in these place the sets 1 ft. or 15 in. apart, and earth over. To avoid the inconveniences
of low wettish ground, whether it be arable or grass laud, or a cultivated garden, potatoes are planted
in raised beds 4 ft. wide, with alleys half that width between. The beds arc thus raised: — Without
digging the surface, lay some long loose litte r upon th e intended beds. Upon this litte r place the sets,
about 1 ft. ap a rt; and upon the sets apply more litte r, equally distributed over the whole ; then digging
the alleys, tu rn the earth thereof upon the beds 5 in. or 6 in. deep ; or, if grass, turn the sward downward,
levelling in the top-spit to the same depth. T h e plauts will produce very good crops.
3618. Subsequent c ultu re . “ From the March or April planting, the stems generally rise fully in May.
Alter the plants have appeared, give a deep hoeing with the pronged hoe on dry days, cutting up all the
weeds, and stirring the ground about the rising stalks of the plants. When advanced from 6 in. to 12 in.
high, hoe up some earth to th e bottom of tho stems, to strengthen their growth, and promote the in-
crease below: continue occasional hoeing to eradicate weeds, till the plants cover th e ground, when but
little further cave will be required. I ’ermit the stalks to run in full growth, and by no means cut them
down, as is sometimes pra ctised; th e leaves being th e organs for transmitting the beneficial infiuence of
the sun and air to the roots, which is most necessary to th e free and perfect growth of the tubers.”
(.•lhercro77ibie.) There are some varieties of late potatoes, such as the Manchester blue, which produce
their tubers a t the extremity of runners a t some distance from the main stem of th e plant; and there
are others, such as most of the early kinds, which produce their tubers a t the extremities of short ru n ners,
close round the main root. Now the earthing-up must be regulated by the distance a t which the
majority of tubers are produced from the main stem of the p la n t; and, consequently, some sorts should
not be earthed up a t a l l ; but rather, if a very large crop is wanted, the whole surface should be slightly
covered with a layer of soil, as is done in the lazy bed, or Irish manner of cultivation; in which, when
th e plants are 3 in. or 4 in. high, the trenches between the beds are deepened, and th e excavated .soil
scattered over the bed. See some valuable reasoning on this subject by Mr. Hayward, in G a rd . M a g .,
vol.ix. p .322.; and the experience of M r. Capper with the Manchester potato, in the same work, v o l.x .
3619. h i j u r y f r o m s p r in g fr o s ts . Early potatoes, when they first come through tlie ground, are liable
to be injured by spring fro sts; but there is an easy and effectual remedy for every gardener who will
take the trouble, and th a t is to water them so as to thaw off th e frost before sun-rise. In Ayrshire,
where even late potatoes are liable to this injury, whole fields of them are sometimes so watered on a
single farm ; all the hands being called to business by the break of day, and th e water being sprinkled
on the young sprouts from vessels of any sort by means of a small bundle or wisp of straw, like a priest’s
aspergillus.
3620. P in ch in g o ffth eb lo s som s . It is now genorully admitted, that a certain advantage, in point of
produce, is obtained by pinching off th e blossoms as they appear on the plants. The fact has been repeatedly
proved, and satisfactorily accounted for by Knight, who estimates th a t it may add an ounce in
weight to the tubers of each plant, or considerably above a ton per acre. (H o r t. T ra n s ., vol. i. p. 190.)
3621. T a k in g tk e crop. “ Clusters of roots in the early planted crop will sometimes by Ju n e or July
be advanced to a sufficient size for present eating, though still small. Only a small portion should be
taken up at a time, as wanted for immediate use, as they will not keep good above a day or two. In
August and September, however, they will be grown to a tolerably good size, and may be taken up in
larger supplies, though not in quantities for keepmg a length of time. Permit th e main winter crops to
continue in growth till towards the end of October or beginning of November, when th e stalks will
begin to decay—an indication that the potatoes are fully grown: then wholly dig them up, and house
for wmter and spring. Lot them then be taken up, before any severe frost sets in ; having, for large
¿ o p s , a proper potato-fork of three or four short flat tines, fixed on a spadc-handle. Cut down the
haulm close, and clear off forward: then fork up the potatoes, turning them clean out of th e ground,
largo ami small; and collect them in baskets.”
3622. H ousi7i g a 7id p 7-escrvi7ig the c rop. Abercrombie recommends “ housing potatoo.s in a close, dry,
rabterraneaii apartment, laid thickly together, and covered well with straw, so as to exclude damp.s and
irost. 1 here they are to be looked over occasionally, and any that decay picked out. In spring, when
839
they begin to shoot, turn them over, and break off the sprouts or shoots from each tuber, perfectly close
m order to retard their future shooting as much as possible. Potatoes so stored will continue good all
the winter and spring, till May and June.
3623. P ittin g , pying, or burying, arc terms used to designate a good method of preserving potatoes in
winter. 1 hey are piled on the surface of the ground, in a ridged form, of a width and length at pleasure,
accordmg to tho quantity, but eommoniy about 5 ft. or G ft. wide. This is done by digging a spit of
earth, and laying it round th e edge, 1 ft, wide (if tu rf the better), filling th e space up with straw, and
then laying on a course of potatoes ; then dig earth from tho outside, and lay upon them. P u t straw a
tew inches along the mside edge, then put in more potatoes, and so on, keeping a good coat of straw all
th e way up between tho potatoes and the mould, which should be about 6iii. thick all over: beat it close
together, and the form it lies in, with the trench all round, will preserve the potatoes dry; and the
sharpest frost will hardly afflict them ; in a severe time of which, the whole m ay be covered thickly with
straw. In the spring, look over th e stock, and break off the shoots of those designed for the table • repeating
this a t intervals, to preserve tho potatoes the longer good.
3624. Diffi-rent 777cthods o f g ro ioing ea rly potatoes. We have already given (? 3340.) th e different
methods oi forcing potatoes, and the preceding paragraphs may be consicÎered as representing the usual
routine of their culture and management in gardens. W'e shall now lay before our readers all the best
modes of producing early crops of potatoes, as practised in Britain, whether in gardens 4.1------------ 1 - - „ . . . 1 1 ---------------------- rtl. AV- «...A A... , .... r . . .or fields. Ail these_modes will be“found described'at length in the first ten voiumes olfrher'UflV-rtereeris J/h/r/zfw
362;). The. p la n ti77g o f ea rly p otatoes is carried to a very high degree of perfection in Lancashire. It is
stated m The L a n ca sh ir e A g r ic u ltu ra l R ep o r t, in respect to th e raising of seed potatoes that upon the
same groimd from which a crop has already been taken, th e early seed potatoes are in some places afterwards
pianted ; which, after being got up about November, are immediately cut up into sets and preserved
m oat husks or sawdust, where they remain till March, when they are pianted, after having had
one sprout taken off, which is also planted. The sprouts arc of a length sufficient to appear above
ground in the space of a week. But the most approved method is, to cut the sets, and put them on a
room floor, where a strong current of air can be introduced at pleasure, the sets laid thinner, as about
two layers m depth, and covered with th e like materials (chaff or sawdust) about 2 in. thick ; this screens
tliein from th e winter frosts, and keeps them moderately warm, causing them to vegetate; but a t the
same time admits air to strengthen them, and harden their shoots, which the cultivators improve by
opening the doors and windows on every opportunity afforded by mild soft weather. They frequently
examine them; and when the shoots are sprung U i n .o r 2 i n . , they carefully remove one half of their
covenng, with a wooden rake, or with the hands, taking care not to disturb or break the shoots. Light
IS requisite, as well as air, to strengthen and establish the shoots; on which account a greenhouse has
th e advantage of a room, but a room answers very well with a good window or two in it, and if to the
sun still better. In this manner they suffer them to remain till the planting season, giving them all the
a ir possible by the doors and windows, when it can be done with safety from frost: by this method thé
shoots a t the top become green, leaves are sprung, and are moderately hardy. They then plant them in
rows, m the usual method, with a setting-stick; and carefullv fill up the cavities made by the setting-
stick: by this method they are enabled to bear a little frost without injury. The earliest potato is the
superfine white kidney ; from this sort, upon the same ground, have been raised four crops, having sets
trom the repository ready to put in as soon as th e others were taken up ; and a fifth crop is sometimes
raised from th e same lands, th e same year, of transphmted winter lettuce. The first crop had the advantage
of a covering in frosty nights.
3626. I n the w e s te rn p a r ts o f the early potato is cultivated in warm
situations, and brought to market in the end of May and during June. The chief
sorts there grown for this purpose are, th e lady’s finger, or early Rufford kidney,
and the early round potato. The cultivators, aware that th e buds from the root
and top end of the tuber germinate at diflcrent periods, assort th eir sets in the
following m aim er: — J'h e sets near the top end (Jig. 779. a ) are found to come to
maturity u fortnight earlier than those a t the root end (d ) ; and these, therefore,
form two classes of sets for an earlier and a later crop. The sets from th e middle
(b, c) are put together for an intermediate crop. The sets are planted in the
month of March or beginning of April, in drills of 24 drills in 20 yards, in the
following manner: — After the drills are formed (J ig. 780. a ), loose earth is
brushed with a spado or harrowed down, to the depth of 6 in. in the interval
between them ( b ) ; dung is then placed over this loose earth, to the depth of 4 in.
or 5 in. (c ) ; th e potato sets of the earliest degree (Jig. 779. «) are then laid on
th e manure, at 4 in. or 5 in. apart, for the early crop ; and sets of th e second degree ( fig . 779. b ), at from
() in, to 8 in. apart, for later crops ; mid so on. The sets for th e early crop are then covered with a
spade, to the depth of 2 in.. and subsequently covered, at two
or three different times, to the depth of about 5 in. The second
780
and third crops are usually covered with the plough. Some
lay the potatoes intended for plants early in the year, before they
are wanted to be cut, loose and sejiarato in straw, or on warm
boarded floors; and others put them on flakes or frames, in warm
situations near the fire, for the same purpose, in order that they
may s p ro u t; and when so sprouted to the length of half an inch
or an inch, they are then carefully cut as described, assorted, and
planted.
3627. I n ihe n o ith o f L a n ca sh ire the potatoes are removed
from their w inter quarters in the last week of January, and spread
out on a floor or placed on shelves in a room where a fire is kept,
or ill an upper room of a warm house. On the 2d of February
they are covered with a blanket or woollen cloth for about four
weeks, which is then taken off in order to harden tho sprouts.
Towards the latter end of March the sprouts will be found about
2 iu. long, and, if th ey a re carefully set, the potatoes will be ready in seven or eight 'cks afterwards.
.....v.o.
Some bring the sots forward by spreading them out, and slightly covering them with light mould under
the stage or on the shelves of a greenhouse, or in a cucumber-frame, or in a loft over a stable or cowhouse.
3628. I n D enbighshire the early potatoes cultivated are theF oxley, theNelson, and.the Rufford kidney.
Potatoes intended for sets the following year are taken up before they are. ripe, just when the outer skm
peels off, and before th e stalk or stem begins to wither; they are then laid upon a gravel walk, or any
dry surface fully exposed to the su n : they remain in tbat situation for a m onth or six weeks, when they
become quite green and soft, as if roasted, and often much shrivelled; they are then put away in a cellar
or pit, where they will remain dry, and neither invaded by frost nor much heat. In February they are
examined, and every eye being then generally found full of long sprouts, they are fit to be planted. The
tubers are therefore cut, seldom into more than two sets, viz. the eye or top part, which is planted by
itself, and found to come a fortnight e a rlie r; and th e root or bottom part, which succeeds them. (G a rd .
Mng-., vol. h .p . 172.) ^
3629. I n g a rdens in the South o f E n g la n d potatoes arc planted in a warm hordcr from the. first week of
October till the latter end of Novembi •
They are placed 9 in. or 10 ii
3 II 4
under the surface, and well
:> l