The daily gazette., 1876-08-25
j .Improvluent of Potatoes.

4
An article in the Revenue Hor.
ticole translated, and published in
the Farmer (Eng.) contains some
points worthy Of attention by our
American farmers, as the same
principles which govern the growth
of this tuber in Europe are also
potent here. When we want to
regenerate any particular kind of
potatoc, or still more, to prevent
it's degeneration, it is of the first
Importance to make a judicious
selection of parent plants. Sever
lmeans may be adopted to this
end. For example, the choice of
the largest possible tubers which
represent well the marked features
of the variety, since the too fire.
quent setting ofsmall tubers tends
to deterioration. Another plan
is to choose the seed, when dig
ging up the crop, from the well
furnished roots, and select the tu-
bers which are most typical of the
special variety under treatment.
The shape of the tuber need not
be too mu h considered. Some
people imagine that tubers which
differ from the usal shape of the
kind to which they belong, are of
necessity degenerate specimens,
but this is an error Tubcrs may
be not exactly of the shape char
acteristic of the variety, and pro-
duce well-shaped potatoes in the
following year. As a rule the shape
of various kind of potatoes differs
according to the naturc.of thes oil
in which theyare cultivated. For
example, it is generally supposed
that the "Marjoulia" ought to be
long and narrow; nevertheless, |
some light sandy soils produce it
IN a swollen, and sometimes even
rounded form, though it turn out |
long and narrow if grown in stiff
soil. 1t is general physioglcal
fact, common to almost all plants,
and specially marked in the case
of the potato, that if they are
planted early every year, their |
precocity increases, whilst by re-
versing the course of action the
contrary effect is produced, and
they tend to become later in at |
tanning full growth. The same |
result appears if we plant success
lively in cold soil. In this case
they become later in arriving at |
maturity, while the contrary hap
pens if we select warm ground.-I
A gain it is almost certain that ifl
we take the first buds that are de-
veloped Oh a potato for planting. |
the crop will be earlier than if we |
planted with the second buds, or |
still more with those of a third
termination. 1t results from all
this, that amongst the various
precautions to be taken in attempt
ing to maintain or even improved
any variety of potato, a .iudicious
choice of tubcrs for planting is of
especial Importance,
The employment OF seeds pro-
perly so called, might also per-
haps be resorted to, sometimes
advantageously SO. But how Of
ten mustsswe not SOW before wei
get good types, and good varie-
ties as a result? Still, notwith-
standing its uncertainty, this
method should not be neglected |
1t is genel ally believed that GER.
tain kinds potatoes. such as the
"Marioulin,'' neither flower or run
to seed. This again is an error. |
All potatoes will flower and yeild
seed when they arc very strongly
manured and are in a condition ofl
eXuberant vegetation; but it is
none the less turc there are some
varieties whose natural strength
leads thpm IN fowor o,,l ,.1 -.