The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-05 00:00:00

THE PROPAGATION OF THE

POTATO.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
SIR, I beg to submit to you some important remarks
en a new method of increasing the potato, which promises
to be of the utmost utility.
. Ever since the introduction of the potato, now nearly
three hundred years, the general w
has been either by planting the ayof increasing
smallthem tubers whole, or
by dividing the large ones into two, three,st and four sets,
tuber.
but rarely making more than four
e
The present great scarcity et that valuables from one
esculent, and
rny own practical experience in tho propagation and
management of plants, more particularly to the proem big
tuberous rooted
of a great number from some of the
kinds, induced me to turn my attention to the subject,
towards obtaining a much more abundant increase from
the potato than the present system gives. I have made
a trial of the method now so successfully practised for
the propagation of the dahlia, as follows:—The roots of
the dahlias are taken up for preserving through the win
ter about the same time as the late-planted potatoes, and
stored from the frost; some of the sorts that are much
in demand and scarce it is now customary to put into
pots in December and January, and to place them in the
hothouse or hotbed, which causes them soon to show the
eyes just above the tubers; these are allowed to grow
to about two or three inches in length. They are then
taken off carefully so as not to des:roy the eyes that are
formed at the bottom part of the young shoots; two eyes
we left on each of these shoots, which will give double
the quantity of cuttings, ready to take off in ten to fif-
teen days after the first lot, and every succession of cut-
tings may be expected to be much more numerous. I
have known instances when the almest incredible num-
ber of 500 good healthy plants has been made from one
dahlia root by the above mode of treatment. It will,
perhaps, be as well to mention that, by the old way of
Propagating, viz., by dividing the root when in a dor-
mant state, i 4 was scarcely possible to make more than
six or seven plants.
I now lay before you the result of my experiments
with the potato as far as time has permitted me.
I placed some tubers of four sorts in the hothouse and
treated them in every respect as the dahlias; they made
cuttings quicker, these cuttings rooted sooner than the
dahlias, and by the present thriving appearance of the
tubers, from which some cuttings have now been taken,
I have not the least doubt of their proving as prolific as
the dahlia. Some objections may be started to this
method of propagation in competition with the old estab-
lished system. My present endeavour is to provide in
some measure for the great deficiency of potatoes for this
season's planting, and I am convinced that, to a certain
extent, it will be found to be perfectly successful. I
think my suggestion will open a great field for improve-
ment in the culture of the potato, and may lead to many
experiments ; and some other advantages may be ex-
pected to be made known. I regret this idea did not
strike me earlier in the season, as it would have given
me an opportunity of placing before the public my other
experiments, which are not just now sufficiently matured,
although I feel quite satisfied they will come up to my
anticipations.
In order that this plan be fully and fairly tested, I
would venture to recommend every gentleman's gardener,
or other parties having the opportunity, to commence
immediately to make the following trials:—viz., where
they have already planted the tubers in frames for the
first crop, and the tubers have made shoots, or not, the
mould to be taken off carefully, by hand, from one, two,
or more rows of the sets, so as to expose them, and some
light and pure soil, finely sifted, be put on directly, just
thick enough to cover the sets ; by adopting this mode
good cuttings will be produced, and, if treated every
way the same as dahlia cuttings, they will readily take
root. On some of the earliest planted sets they will
probably be found, on removing. the soil, to have already
made some growth; these should be taken off to near the
sets, they will throw out fresh shoots or cuttings very
soon, and every attention should be paid to promote the
growth and health of the tubers or sets, such as oc-
casionally to replenish the soil about them, giving air at
times to prevent a too rapid growth or the shoots will
become weak and succulent.

I am under the impression that if from twelve to
twenty cuttings were put into each store pot in the
middle or latter end of April, they would take root in
ten or twelve days, and when gradually hardened to
bear exposure they could at once be permanently planted
into gardens or fields with as much certainty and in a
ii;iimilar manner as the turnip, cabbage, &c., are from the
geed beds ; and here I would suggest the propriety of
getting them out as soon as possible in order to prevent
the plants being checked too long, for the success of the
crop of all tuberous-rooted plants depends, in a great
measure, on their free and uninterrupted growth.
In a former part of my letter I expressed regret at not
having had the opportunity of making an earlier trial of
my plan, and that will very likely lead some persons to
inquire how I propose to manage with the young plants
that might be rooted in January and February, and
when they could not be planted in the open ground. I
beg to add my recommendation for that early time of
the )ear for the young plants would be either to put
them into large sized pots, or plant them in frames tor
an early crop for the table, or to give stock, the tubers
would be ripe in time for re-planting out of doors in
May, making two crops in one season ; and if of a new
and choice sort, I would re-pot the young plant, take
cif the top for another cutting, aid keep the young
plant for increasing, and I think it would yield many
cuttings if encouraged. This method might be pursued
to a great extent.
And probably this new method of propagation may be
a means of throwing some light on the much talked of
disease in the potato as to its origin ; my impression is,
that it arises from a very minute parasitical plant, which
attaches itself to the haulm and fills up the pores of the
leaves and stems, checking the circulation of the sap,
and depriving the plant of all nourishment of the atmo •
sphere, and that it is only in remarkable seasons this
parasite vegetates.
From experiments now making I expect some further
important results, which Isbell be happy to make known.
EDWARD BROWN.
The Cottage, Slough, Bucks.