Preparation Of Sets For Forcing

They should be of the early varieties. To assist their forward vegetation, plant a single potato in each of the pots intended for forcing, during January. Then place in the ground, and protect with litter from the frost. This renders them very excitable by heat; and, consequently, when plunged in a hot-bed, they vegetate rapidly and generate tubers. The seed potatoes are equally assisted, and with less trouble, if placed in a cellar just in contact with each other, and as soon as the germs are four inches long, are removed to the hot-bed.

Management

More than one stem should never be allowed, otherwise the tubers are small, and not more numerous.

Water must be given whenever the soil appears dry, and in quantity proportionate to the temperature of the air. Linings must be applied as the temperature declines; and air admitted as freely as the temperature of the atmosphere will allow. Coverings must be afforded with the same regard to temperature.

From six to seven weeks usually elapse between the time of planting and the fitness of the tubers for use. The average produce from a light soil is about five pounds.

There is another mode of obtaining young potatoes, during the winter, which is much practised on account of its facility; though, being produced without foliage, they are not so fine in flavour, are deficient in farina, and are otherwise inferior. Old potatoes often throw out from their sides young ones, early in the spring; and of this habit advantage is taken in obtaining them still earlier. Some full-grown and ripe tubers, of the ox noble variety, that have no appearance of vegetating, must be laid alternately with layers of perfectly dry, rich, vegetable mould, four inches deep, in pans or boxes, until they are filled. These may be placed in a thoroughly dry shed, or on a shelf in the kitchen. If the layers are constructed in the corner of a shed or cellar, the produce will be equally good, though longer in coming to perfection. No foliage is produced, the potatoes are surrounded by numerous young ones of moderate size. No water must ever be admitted on any account. Notice is to be taken that between three and four months elapse between the time of forming the layers and the fitness of the produce for use.

Thus if made early in September, the crop will be ready in the course of December. When they are examined, those that are fit may be taken oft", and the old potatoes replaced until the remainder are ready.

Potato Murrain

By the above name was distinguished a moist gangrene which attacked very generally the potato crop of England late in the summer of the year 1845. July and August were unusually wet and cold, and early in August there were sharp morning frosts. Immediately after, the stems began to decay; but the weather continuing wet, instead of their decay being dry, and attended with the usual phenomena of their reduction to mere woody fibre, the putrefaction was moist, and the smell attendant upon it precisely that evolved during the decay of dead potato haulm partly under water. The stem decayed whilst the fibres connecting the tubers with them were fresh and juicy - the putrefaction spread along these, the ichor being absorbed by their still energetic vessels, and passing into the still immature and unusually juicy tubers, imparted to them the gangrene; the infection first being apparent at the end nearest the connecting fibre, spreading gradually throughout the liber of the tuber, rendering it brown like a decayed apple, and lastly causing the decay of its interior portion. Previously to the final decay, the increased specific gravity of the potato was remarkable, amounting to one-third more than that of a healthy tuber - an increase caused by its greater amount of water.

When boiled it became black; but when submitted to a dry heat of about 20(P, it rapidly lost moisture, and the progress of the ulceration was retarded, if not entirely stopped.

There can be no preventive for such a disease as this - and the only chance of saving the tubers is to mow off"all the haulms close to the ground the moment infection is apparent in them. This might prevent the circulation of the ichor to the tubers. These should be taken up forthwith and clamped as recommended by Dr. Lindley, with a layer of earth or sand alternating with each layer of potatoes.

The disease seems to be the natural result of an excessive degree of wet and cold at that period of closing growth when all bulbs and tubers require an increased degree of dryness and warmth. If the hyacinth, or tulip, or dahlia are submitted to similar unpropitious contingencies, their bulbs or tubers similarly decay.

It is not a new disease, for to a less extent it has been frequently noticed before. The best preservative of the tubers in such ungenial seasons is to take them up, to dry them perfectly, and then store them in a dry shed in dry coal ashes.

Much has been written on this subject, and the newspapers here and in Europe have been filled with speculations as to its duration, etc. The failure to a considerable extent of the crop of the present year, (1S46,) would indicate that the disease is not of such temporary character as had been hoped and predicted. If it continue all the old varieties must necessarily be abandoned, and reliance placed on new ones, raised from the seed proper; therefore, as a matter of precaution, we would recommend attention to that object. They are readily produced by carefully sowing the seed, and replanting the young tubers in successive seasons, until they attain full size. There is reason to hope such would be free from disease, or at any rate less liable to it, than the older varieties.