, 1881-09-03

Mr.. Andrews, of Rochester, New York.
1t is very smooth and handsome IN form,
of excellent quality, q good crOpper, but
some two weeks later thar the Early Rose.
Skin and flesh both pure white, an excel
lent keeper. The Clark No. / is thought
very highly of as an early sort. Mr.. H.,
originated a variety which he has named
the Chicago Market, that he thinks very
valuable. He has also a still later sort
not yet named, that promises well, though
not yet fully tested. Many OF the new
varieties now upon the market will prove
excellent, and many others, perhaps those
most Landed, will soon sink out of sight.
One who wishes to try his hand at pro-
curing new varieties of the potato should,
in the Fall, select the mature balls from
good, strong, early or rather early varie-
ties. Keep them in a dry, moderately
warm and uniform temperature. In March
clean the pulp from the seeds and plant
the seeds in a hot bed or green house.
When we'll started "prick out" into pots,
the same as florists do verbenaS and the
like. About the middle of M~ay-being
governed of course by the season as to
precise time-set the plants about three
feet apart in a sandy or g~rave!ly
loam-best if some clay is intermiX-
ed. Do not have the soil too rich.
1t should be remarked perhaps, that no
two seeds, even from the same ball,
will produce potatoes alike in quality or
form. Each plant will produce from Is to
30 or more tuhers, which will all be alike.
These will vary in size from o pea to a
goose egg, perhaps. Select the medium
sized, sEoothest and heaviest specimens
for next years planting; the heaviest
because those contain the most starch and
are hence most vigorous. IL will take three
years to tell much about quality and other
characteristics, and fully six years to deter.
mine these things with sufficient definite
ness to warrant Introduction to the public.
At the end of that period the potato
should be at its perfection. DO not pro-
pagate from a plant that gives less than
20 tubers the first season. Cultivate well
and same as tors field crop. Experiments
it will be seen, need not be expensive in
any manner, aud the results will always
be surprising and interesting.
1t is useless Tor any but expert botanists
to Try to hybridize or cross varieties.
The structure of the potato blossom is
such that NJ. HetIrin considers it useless
to experiment in this direction. He thinks
that perhaps crosses have accidentally
been made in natures own way, but he
takes no stock in alleged success in this
direction by human hands. The old idea
still held by many farmers, that potatoes
will " mix in the bill" is an ahsurd!ty and
40 imposslbiIity. Where such seems 10 be
the case it may be set down as a mere
"spOrt" OF the pIaut. The profitable life
Of a variety OF the potato varies greatly.
Those of very fine, delicate texture will
"run out' quickest, while the coarser and
stronger may last for a quarter OF a century
or more. 1t seems Of little use to try to get
a variety much earlier than the Early Rose.
They may be had, however, but yield will
be sacrificed to earIineSs; and an unpr0duc-
tive potato, no matter how early, will bring
little food or money.
All experimenters agree that perfection
in the potato has not yet been reached, and
it is true, also, tina: oil varieties do not do
equally well ia all localities. 80 that out of
the fact that an endless number of varieties
can be produced from. seed, comes the hope
not only OF great Improvements 10 general,
but also the probability that experimenters
in different localities may add greatly to
the welfare of theif neighbourhoods or
counties, il not to the State and country,
by close and continued efforts. The
Farmers RerieaU, Chicago.