The raising of potatoes being now considered as rather the business of the farm, in many gardens only a quarter of early potatoes is to be found. For the original produc tion of the varieties, called earlier, we are indebted to the kitchen gardeners near Manchester. Encouraged by the demand of that populous town, they vied with each other to have potatoes first in the market : they noted those plants that flowered early, saved them, and sowed their seeds ; by again watching the earliest of these, they pro ct:red varieties which arrive so much sooner at a state ap proaching maturity, as far as the tubers are concerned, that young potatoes may be had for table two months after planting. The most productive of these, and least apt to degenerate, are such as do not shew a disposition to flower.
308. The potato is chiefly propagated by cuts of the tubers, taking care to leave one or two eyes or buds to each cut, but eradicating all clustered eyes. The best shaped and cleanest potatoes are selected for this purpose The cuts are the better for being allowed to dry for a day or two before planting. Any light soil, in a free airy situation, suits the potato. 'Poo much manure can scarely be given, if the quantity of produce be alone looked to; but potatoes of more delicate flavour are procured from ground not recently enriched. About the middle of March some of the early kinds, such as the ash-leaved, are planted on a light warm border. As they are to be taken up soon, sixteen inches between the lines is accounted enough, and seven or eight inches between each plant. They are com monly planted in drills, and covered to the depth of three or four inches. The tubers being small, are generally only cut in two to make sets ; but not more than two eyes are left on each set. Rooted shoots, accidentally produced among the stock of early potatoes, have been found to afford a very speedy return. Instructed by this circum stance, some gardeners lay the sets on a floor sprinkled with sand or barley-chaff, till they have sprung four or five inches, thus advancing the growth of the plants as much as possible under a low temperature, so as to avoid all unnecessary expenditure of their excitability. Great care must be taken, however, to preserve their germs and roots from injury in transplanting. By this means the plants are forwarded nearly three weeks in their growth. The young potatoes are fit for use in June and July, and in August the tops of the parent plants change to a yel low colour, indicating maturity. Only a few plants are taken up at once ; for the young and immature tubers do not keep good beyond a day or two : it is found better, therefore, to let them remain in the ground till wanted, and in this way they may be made to meet the later sort.
About the middle or end of April, the general potato quar ter is planted. Two feet is the space commonly allowed between the rows, and from ten to fourteen inches between the plants. For planting, some use the potato dibble ; which is an instrument about three feet long, with a cross handle at top for both hands, the lower end blunt and shod with iron, and having a cross iron shoulder, about four inches from the bottom, so that the holes must of necessity be struck of equal depth. The only attention the crop requires is hoeing, and drawing earth to the stems : the oftener this last operation is performed, the greater is the produc'e. The potatoes are taken up and used in the autumn months ; the winter supply being drawn from the fields, as already mentioned. Potatoes are taken up with a fork made for the purpose, and which consists of three or four short flat tines, fixed on a spade handle. The winter store is carefully housed ; or, what is better, it is lodged under ground, in pits covered with earth, and with straw during frost.
309. The late or field potatoes, it may be remarked, afford in most places a great part of the supply for spring and summer ; and any improvement in the mode of keep ing them is deserving of attention. The Rev. Dr Dow of Kilspindie (in the first volume of Scottish Horticultural Memoirs) has described a mode, the advantages of which have in various places been confirmed by experience. The potatoes destined for long keeping he puts into small pits, holding about two bolls each ; these are formed under the shade of a tree, wall, or stack of hay, and are covered with earth and straw in the usual way. In the following spring, about May, when warmth begins, the potatoes are ex amined; all shoots or buds arc rubbed off, and such as shcw any tendency to spoil, arc laid aside. The pits be ing cleaned out, are nearly filled with water ; and when this is absorbed, the potatoes arc returned into it. every parcel or half-boll being watered as it is laid in. A layer ol turf is placed with the grass next to the potatoes ; a plen tiful watering is then given ; and the whole is covered with earth to the depth of two feet, and well beaten to gether with the spade. This operation is repeated once a month, as long as the potatoes are wished to be preserved. Dr Dow states, that he has thus kept them till Septem ber, quite plump, and unimpaired in taste; and although, from the liberal supplies of water, we might expect them to be drenched with moisture, he assures us that they con tinue as mealy as ever.