se'rpens (creeping). 4. West Indie*. 1816.
aerrccfo'rme (saw-shaped). July. Isle of
Luzon. 18il.
POL
[ 734 ]
PON
P. sertularioi'des (Sertularia - like). April.
Malacca.
si'mile (similar). 2.
stigmo'sum (stigma-like). 1. May. East
Indies. 1823.
subfalca'tum (slightly-sickled). July. Isle
of Luzon. 183Q.
subpetiola'tum (short - stalked). 2. May.
Mexico. 1845.
teenio'sum (banded). 2. August. South
America. 1815.
tene'llum (slender). !. New Holland. 1823.
tetrago'num (four-angled). June. Brazil.
1827-
tricho'des (hair-like). July. Isle of Luzon.
1840.
trichomanoi'des (Trichomanes-like). 1. Au-
gust. West Indies. 1822.
trif urea' turn (three-forked). . July. West
Indies. 1820.
'tubero'sum (tuberose). 2. All. West Indies.
vacciniifo'lium (Whortleberrry-leaved). .
September. West Indies.
POLYSPO'EA. (From polys, many,
and spora, seed ; many-seeded capsules.
Nat. ord., Teaworts [Ternstrcemiacese].
Linn., \Q-Monadelphia S-Polyandria.
Allied to Camellia.)
Stove evergreen shrub. Cuttings of half-
ripened shoots, in sand, under a bell-glass, also
by grafting, or budding, on the Camellia Ja-
ponica ; sandy nbry loam, and a little peat and
leaf-mould. Winter temp., 50 to 55; sum-
mer, 60 to 80.
P. axilla'ris (axillary -flowered}. 3. White.
March. E. Indies. 1818.
POLY'STICHUM. (From polys, many,
and stichus, a row ; numerous rows of
spore-cases. Nat. ord., Ferns [Poly-
podiaceae]. Liun., Z-Cryptoyamia 1-
Filices.)
Stove, yellow-spored, Ferns. See Ferns.
P. arista'tum (awned). 1. July. Norfolk Island.
auricula'tum (eared). July. E.Indies. 1793.
Cape'nse (Cape). June. C. of Good Hope.
1823.
coniifo' Hum (Hemlock-leaved). l. June.
E. Indies. 1841.
denticula'tum (toothed). July. Jamaica.
discre'tum (parted). May. Nepaul.
drepa'num (sickle-/ronded). June. Madeira.
1822.
falcine'llum (small-sickle). May. W. Indies.
glandulo'sum (glanded). June.
hi'spidum (bristly). July. New Zealand.
1845.
mucrona'tum (sharp - pointed). Jamaica.
1838.
muni'tum (armed). May. Jamaica. 1839.
obtu'sum (blunt). June. I. of Luzon.
proli'ferum (proliferous). July. Brazil. 1842.
pu'ngens (stinging). May. C. of Good Hope.
1823.
rhomboi'deum (diamond-leaved). April. E.
Indies.
specio'sum (showy). July. Nepaul.
vesti'tum (clothed). June. Van Dieraens
Land, 1842.
POMADE 'RUTS. (From poma, a lid,
j and derris, a skin ; the membraneous
i covering of the seed-vessel. Nat. ord.,
Rhamnads [Rhamnacese]. Linn., o-
i Pentandria \-Monogynia.)
Greenhouse, New Holland, evergreen shrubs ;
. yellow-flowered, except where otherwise stated.
i Cuttings of half-ripened shoots, cut to a joint,
j dried at the base, and inserted in sand, under a
i glass ; peat and sandy loam. Winter temp.,
38 to 45. Elliptica, with the exception of
i having creamy-like flowers, resembles the Cea-
j nothus azureus, and no doubt would prove
almost as hardy against a wall.
P. acumina'tu (pointed-leaved). 80. June. 1816.
Andromedcufo 1 Ha (Andromeda - leaved). 5.
June. 1824.
di'scolor (two-coloured). 5. Whitish. April.
1814.
globulo'sa (globulose). 6. July, 1803.
lani'gera (woolly). 3. April. 1806.
ledifo'lia (Ledum-leaved). 2. April, 1824.
ligustri'na (Privet-like). White. June. 1826.
viridiru'fa (greenish-brown). April. 1821.
Wendlandia'na (Wendland's). 6. April.
1810.
POMA'RIA. (Named after Pomar, a
Spanish physician. Nat. ord., Legumi-
nous Plants [Fabaceae]. Linn., lO-Df-
candria \-Monoyynia. Allied to Caosal-
pinia.)
Greenhouse evergreen shrub. Seeds, in a
hotbed, in spring ; cuttings of half-ripened
shoots, in May, in sand, under a bell-glass ;
sandy loam and fibry peat, Winter temp., 40
to 48.
P. glandulo'sa (glanded). 6. Yellow. May.
New Spain. 1826.
PO'MAX. (From poma, a lid; the
operculum or covering of the seed-
vessel. Nat. ord., Cinchonads [Cin-
chonacese]. Linn., 4:-Tetrandria \-Mo-
nogynia. Allied to Opercularia.)
Greenhouse evergreen. See Opercularia.
P. hi'rta (hairy). 1. White, green. July. 1 New
Holland. 1826.
POMEGRANATE. Pu'nica.
POMPION. Cucu'rUta.
PONCELE'TIA. ( Named after M.Pon-
celet, author of a treatise on wheat.
Nat. ord., Epacrlds [Epacridacese].
Linn., ^-Pentandria \-Monogynia. Al-
Ued to Epacris.)
Greenhouse evergreen. For culture see Epu-
cris.
P. sprengelioi'des (Sprengelia-like). 1. May.
New South Wales. 1826.
PONDS, are reservoirs of water dug
out of the soil, and made retentive by
puddling with clay their bottoms and
PON
[ 735 ]
PON
sides. Puddling is necessary in almost
all instances, and the mode of proceed-
ing is thus detailed by Mr. Marnock, in
the United Gardeners' Journal. "When
the excavation is formed, or partially
so, the hottom puddle near the outer
edge is formed, and upon this is raised
the upright or side puddle ; and as
this proceeds the ordinary clay or earth
is raised at the same time, hy which
means the upright puddle is retained in
its place ; and ultimately the sides, being
formed in a sloping direction, admit of
being covered with gravel or sand, and
may be walked upon, or stakes may be
driven to a considerable depth without
reaching the puddle or in any way in-
juring it ; this can never be the case if
the puddle, as is sometimes done, be
laid upon the sloping side of the pond.
The sides may slope rapidly, or the
reverse. If the slope be considerable,
sand or gravel, to give a clean appear-
ance, will be more likely to be retained
upon the facing; plants can be more
easily fixed and cultivated ; gold-fish,
also, find in these shallow gravelly parts
under the leaves of the plants suitable
places to deposit their spawn, and with-
out this they are seldom found to breed.
Ponds made in this way may be of any
convenient size, from a couple of yards
upwards to as many acres. The follow-
ing is the section of a pond thus formed :
a indicates the surface of the ground at
the edge of the water ; b, the puddle ;
r, the facing to preserve the puddle
from injury ; d, the water ; e, the sur-
face of the latter; and/, the ordinary
bottom. When a small pond of this
kind is to be made, and the extent of
the surface is determined upon and
marked out, it will then be necessary to
form a second or outer mark, indicating
the space required for the wall or side
puddle, and about three feet is the
proper space to allow for this the
puddle requiring about two feet, and
the facing which requires to be laid
upon the puddle ought to be about a
foot more, making together three feet.
Ponds may be made very ornamental.
PONGA'MIA. (Pongam, its Malabar
name. Nat. ord., Leyuminous Plant K
[Fabacese]. Linn., 17 -DiadelpMa 4-
Decandria. Allied to Dalbergia.)
Stove evergreen shrubs and climbers 5 all but
one white-flowered, and from the East Indies.
For culture see Dalbergia.
P. gla'bra (smooth-teawedl. 5. 1699.
grandiflo'ra (large-flowered). 6. 1818.
margina'ta (bordered). 3. Yellow. May.
1824. Twiner.
Pisci'dia (Piscidia-KAre). 1818.
uligino'na (marsh). W.Indies. 1824. Twiner.
PONTIA. A genus of butterflies, of
which the following one is most ob-
noxious to the gardener :
P. brassicce. Large White Cabbage
Butterfly. The wings are white ; the
upper with broad black tips, and the
female has two black spots on the
middle. The under side of the under
wings is light yellow. Breadth, when
expanded, two inches. It appears
from May to October. The caterpillar
is bluish-green, thinly haired, and
sprinkled with black dots, having a
yellow stripe on the back, and the same
on the sides. These caterpillars are
found, throughout the summer and
autumn, on all the cabbage-worts, on
horse-radish, radishes, mustard, and
similar plants, as well as on water-
cresses. The pupae are yellowish-green,
with black dots, with a point on the
head, and five on the back. The best
way to destroy them is picking off and
killing the caterpillars, as well as the
pupae, as far as it is possible ; the latter
are found attached to adjacent trees,
hedges, and walls. But care must be
taken not to destroy those pupa? which
have a brown appearance ; because they
are full of the larvae of ichneumons,
and other allied parasites, which are
the great scourge of these caterpillars.
P. rap<e. Small White Cabbage But-
j terfly. This butterfly resembles the
; foregoing, but is one-half smaller ; and
I the black tinge at the points of the
! upper wings is fainter, and not visible
j on the outer edge. The time of appear-
i ance is the same as of the former. The
| caterpillar is of a dull green, with fine
PON [ \
white minute hair*, a yellow stripo on
the back, and yellow spots on the sides,
on a pale ground. In some years it is
very injurious to the cabbage and turnip
plants; it also infests Mignonette, which
it strips entirely of its leaves. It is
very difficult to be discovered, from its
colour. The pupa is yellowish or
greenish-gray, with three yellow stripes.
KoUar.
POPLAR. Po'pulm.
POPPY. Papa'ver.
PONTEDE 'EIA. ( Named after .7. Pon -
tedera, professor of botany at Padua.
Nat. ord., Pontederiads [Pontederia-
cere]. Linn., C)-Hexandrial-Mono(/i/)ii, )
Blue-flowered aquatics. Divisions of the
roots; rich, strong, loamy soil, in a tub of
water, or an aquarium.
HAEDY AQUATICS.
P, angustifo'lia (narrow-leaved). 2. July. N.
America. 1806.
coeru'lea (light-blue). 2. July. N. America.
1830.
corda'ta (heart-teawd) . 2. July. N.America.
1759.
lanceola'ta (spear-head). 2. July. N. Ame-
rica. 1815.
STOYE AQUATICS.
P. axu'rea (sky-blue). . July. Jamaica. 1824.
cra'ssipes (thick -leaf- stalked). f. May.
Guiana. 1825.
dilata'ta (spreading). 2. July. E. Indies.
PO'PULUS. Poplar. (From arbor- \
populi of the Romans, or the tree of !
the public ; the Turin poplar much ;
planted in their cities. Nat. ord., Wil-
loivworts [Salicacea?]. Linn., 22-Dicecia ;
7 -Octandria.)
Hardy deciduous trees. Seeds, which should I
be sown in moist soil, slightly covered, but
shaded, as soon as the seeds drop from the
trees ; by cuttings of the ripened shoots ; also
by layers and suckers; a deep, moist, loamy
soil suits them the best, but they do not thrive }
well either in a very dry place, or in places
where there is stagnant water.
P. a'lba (white. Abeletree}. 40. March. Britain, i
angula'ta (angular. Carolina}, 80. March.
Carolina. 1738.
balsami'fera (balsamic). 70. April. North i
America. 1792.
fo'liis variega'tis (variegated- I
leaved). April.
interme'dia (intermediate). April.
" latifo'lia (broad - leaved). 40.
April.
suave'olens (sweet-scented). 70.
April. Russia. 1825.
{ mina'lis (twiggy). 40. April.!
Altai, 1826.
'M ] POK
P. bet ul!f, t ' Hit. (Birch-leaved. Bla
40. March. N. America.
' Canark'n.iis (Canadian). March, Cana.in.
ca'ndicans (whitish, heart - tened). so.
March. N. America. 1772.
cane'scens (hoary). 40. March. England.
\ ~~ arerifo'lia (Maple-leaved).
! JEgypti'aca (Egyptian). Egypt.
; : Arembe'rgioa (Aremberg). 1835.
, Be'lgtca (Belgian;. S. Europe.
1835.
fiy'brida (hybrid). 40. April. Cau-
casus. 1816.
i : ni'vea (snow-white).
I pe'ndula (drooping-branched}.
fastigiu'ta (pyramidal. Lombardy}. 70.
March. Italy. 1758.
! fus'mina (female). March. Italy.
1838,
: Grce'ca (Greek. Athenian). 40. March.
Archipelago. 1779.
grandidenta'ta (large-toothed). 70. March.
N. America. 1772.
pe'ndula (drooping). 40.
March. N. America. -1820.
heterophy'lla (various-leaved). 70. March.
N. America. 1765.
laurifo'lia (Laurel-leaved). April.
longifo'lia (long-leaved). April. America.
1843.
monili'fera (necklace-bearing). 70. May.
Canada. 1772.
JAndleya'na (Lindley's waved -
leaved}. April. Canada. 17/2.
variegu'ta (variegated - leaved).
May.
ni'gra (black). 30. March. Britain.
salicifo'lia (Willow -leaved). April.
Floetbeck. 1834.
vi'ridis (green-leaved). April. Britain.
pse'udo - balsami'fera (bastard - balsamic).
April. America. 1843.
tre'mula (trembling. Aspen}. 50. March.
Britain.
leeviga'ta (smooth). 80. March.
N. America. 1760.
pe'ndula (drooping). April.
supi'na (lying-down). March. N.
America. 1824.
tre'pida (trembling. American}. 30. North
America. 1812.
tri'stis (sad). April. N.America. 1843.
POEA'NA. (From poreno, to travel ;
the twining stems extending far and
wide. Nat. ord., Bindiveeds [Convol-
vulaceee]. Linn., 5-Pentandria l-Mo-
nogynia. Allied to Convolvulus.)
Stove evergreen, East Indian, white-flowered
twiners. Seeds, in a hotbed, and side, stubby,
short shoots, in sandy soil, under a bell-glass,
in heat; peat and loam. Winter temp., 50 to
55 ; summer, 60 to 85.
P. panicula'ta (panicled). October. 1823.
volu'bilis (twining). 50. July. 1820.
POEANTHE'EA. (From poros, a pore
or opening, and anthera, an anther or
pollen bag ; anthers opening by pores.
Nat. ord., Spurynuorts [Euphorbiaceftj],
Linn,, 5-Pcnta'ndria 3-ZVtyynifl.)
POR
[ 737 ]
POT
Greenhouse evergreen. Cuttings of firm side-
shoots, in sand, under a bell-glass, set in a
close frame, and shaded in May; peaf and
sandy loam. Winter temp., 40 to 48.
P. ericifo'lia (Heath-leaved). 1. White. July.
New Holland. 1824.
PORLIE'RA. (Named after P. A.
Porlicr, a Spaniard. - Nat. ord., Bean-
capers [Zygophyllacese]. Linn., S-Oc-
tandrla \-Monoyynia. Allied to Melian-
thus.)
Stove evergreen shrub, with leaves which
close before rain; hence called hygrometrica.
Cuttings of firm shoots, in spring, in sand,
under a bell-glass, and in a brisk bottom-heat.
Winter temp., 50 to 55 ; Summer, 60 to 80.
P. hygrome'trica (hygrometric). 6. Peru. 1820.
PO'RPAX. (From porpax, a button;
shape of pseudo-bulbs. Nat. ord., Or-
chids [Orchidaceso]. Linn., 20-Gynan-
dria 1-Monandria. Allied to Ixias.)
Stove orchid. Divisions, in spring, in pots.
See Orchids.
P. reticula'ta (netted). Purple, red. E.Indies.
PORPHYRO'COMA. (From porphyra,
purple, and koma, a head ; flower-heads
purple. Nat. ord., Acanthads [Acan-
thacese]. Linn., 14-Didynomia %-Angio-
spermia. Allied to Aphelandra.)
Stove evergreen shrub. Cuttings of young
shoots, in sandy soil, in a hotbed; peat and
loam. Winter temp., 50 to 60; summer, 60
to 85.
P. lanceola'ta(spe&r-hea.di-leaved'). 1, Violet.
April. 1845,
POETLA'NDIA. (Named after the
Duchess of Portland. Nat. ord., Cin-
chonads [Cinchonaceee]. Linn.,5-Pew-
tandria 1-Monogynia. Allied to Ron-
deletia.)
Stove evergreen shrubs, from Jamaica, Cut-
tings of rather firm shoots, in sand, under a
bell-glass, and in a brisk sv.-eet bottom-heat ;
sandy loam, peat, and a little leaf-mould.
Winter temp., 45 to 60; summer, 60 to 90.
P. cocci'nea (scarlet). 5. Scarlet. 1812.
grandiflo'ra (large-flowered), 12. White.
1775.
PORTUGAL LAUREL. Ce'rasw lusi-
la'nica.
PORTULA'CA. Purslane. (Fromporto,
to cany, and lac, milk; milky juice.
Nat. ord., Purslanes [ Portulacese ] .
Linn., \\-Dodecandrla 1 Monogynia.
Allied to Talinum.)
Hardy annuals, by seeds, in the open border,
at the end of April ; tender annuals, by seed, in
hotbed, in spring, and afterwards flowering
them in the greenhouse, as they require a very
sheltered sunny spot to do much good in the
47
open air; tuberous and sJmiMif greenhouse
kinds, by cuttings, and division of the roots ;
rich sandy loam and peat, the loam being en-
riched with old leaf-mould, or cow-dung.
GREENHOUSE TUBEROUS EVERGREENS.
P. Gittte'flu(Gilliei's). 4- Red, pink. Mendoza.
1827
grandiflo'ra (large-flowered). Yellow, purple.
June. Chili. 1827.
Peruvia'na (Peruvian). 2. Purple. May.
Peru. 1820. Stove herbaceous.
sple'ndens (shining). Crimson, purple. May.
Chili. 1839. Herbaceous perennial.
Thelluso'nii (Thelluson's). 1. Scarlet. July.
South Europe. 1839.
lu'tea (yellow). 1, Yellow. June.
1847.
sple'ndens (shining). 1. Kedish
purple. June.
GREENHOUSE ANNUALS.
P. fialimoi'des (Halimus - like). 4- Yellow.
June. Jamaica. 1823.
meridia'na (noonday). $. Yellow. May.
East Indies. 1791.
parvifo'lia (small-leaved). 4- Yellow. June.
Jamaica. 1799.
pilo'sa (shaggy). 4- Pink. June. South
America. 1690.
pwsi'Wo (weak). *. Yellow. June. Trinidad.
1824.
quadri'fida (four-cleft). J. Yellow. August.
East Indies. 1773.
HARDY ANNUALS.
Pfolia'sa (leafy). 4- Yellow. June, Guinea,
1822
grandiflo'ra lu'tea (large-yellow-flowered).
Yellow. June. Chili. 1827.
Guine'nsis (Guinea). 4- Yellow. June.
Guinea. 1823.
involucra'ta (involucrated). 4. Pink. June.
1820.
mucrona'ta (sharp-pointed). 4- Yellow,
June. 1822.
olera'cea (eatable). 2- Yellow. July. Europe.
1582.
sati'va (cultivated). 14. Yellow. August.
South America. 1652.
au'rea (golden). 1. Yellow. August.
South America. 1652.
POSOQUE'RIA. (Posoqueri, the Gui-
anan name of longiflora. Nat ord.,
Cinchonads [Cinchonacese]. Linn., 5-
Pentandria l-Monoyynia. Allied to
Gardenia.)
Stove, white-flowered, evergreen shrubs. Cut
tings of young shoots, in sand, under a bell-
glass, and in heat, in April or May; sandy
loam, leaf-mould, and a little peat. Winter
temp., 48 to 60 ; summer, 60 to 85.
P. gra'cilis (slender). 5. Guiana. 1825.
1 latifo'lia (broad-leaved). 5. September.
Guiana. 1826.
! longiflo'ra (long-flowered). 5. Guiana. 1822.
I verai'color (changeable - coloured) . Pinky
white. September. Cuba. 1839.
POTATO. Sola'num tubero'sum^
3fi
POT
c
POT
Soil. A. dry, friable, fresh, and mo-
derately rich soil, is the best for every
variety of the potato.
The black-skinned and rough-red,
thrive better than any other in moist,
strong, cold soils. If manure is abso-
lutely necessary, whatever may be the
one employed, it is better spread regu-
larly over the surface previous to dig-
ging, than put into the holes with the
sets, or spread in the trench when they
are so planted. But, if possible, avoid
manuring. Leaf-mould, or very de-
cayed stable-dung, is the best of all
manures ; sea-Aveed is a very beneficial
addition to the soil; and so is salt.
Coal-ashes and sea-sand are applied
with great benefit to retentive soils.
The situation must always be open.
Propagation. It is propagated in
general by the tubers, though the
shoots arising from thence, and layers
of the stalks, may be employed. New
varieties are raised from seed.
Planting in the open ground is best
done in October and November, and
may thence be continued until the end
of March. This last month is the latest
in which any considerable plantation
should be made. They will succeed if
planted in May, or even June, yet it
ought always to be kept in mind that
the earliest planted, especially in dry
soils, produce the finest, healthiest,
and most abundant crops.
Sets. The next point for considera-
tion is the preparation of the sets.
Some gardeners recommend the largest
potatoes to be planted whole ; others,
that they be sliced into pieces contain-
ing two or three eyes ; a third set, to
cut the large tubers directly in half ; a
fourth, the employment of the shoots
only, which are thrown out if potatoes
are kept in a warm damp situation ; and
a fifth, that merely the parings be em-
ployed. Cuttings of the stalks, five or
six inches in length, or rooted suckers,
will be productive if planted, dining
showery weather, in May or June ; and
during this last month, or early in July,
the potato may be propagated by layers,
which are formed by pegging clown the
young stalks when about twelve inches
long, they being covered three inches
thick with mould at a joint. For the
main crops, moderate sized whole pota-
toes are the best.
To obtain early crops, where tubers
are rapidly formed, large sets must bo
employed. In these one or two eyos
at most should be allowed to remain.
If the sets are placed with their leading
buds upwards, few and very strong
early stems will be produced; but, if
the position is reversed, many weak
and later shoots will arise, and not
only the earliness but the quality of
the produce be depreciated. For the
earliest crops there are likewise several
modes of assisting the forward vege-
tation of the sets. These should be
prepared by removing every eye but
one or two ; and being placed in a
layer in a warm room, where air and
light can be freely admitted, with a
covering of straw, chaff, or sand, they
soon emit shoots, which must be
strengthened by exposure to the air
and light as much as possible, by
taking off the cover without injuring
them. During cold weather, and at
night, it must always be removed : the
leaves soon become green and tolerably
hardy. In early spring they are planted
out, the leaves being left just above
the surface, and a covering of litter
afforded every night until the danger of
frost is passed.
Planting. Insert them with the dib-
ble, in rows ; for the early crops twelve
inches apart each way, and for the
main ones eighteen inches. The sets
six inches beneath the surface. The
potato-dibble is the best instrument
that can be employed ; the earth being
afterwards raked or struck in with the
spade, and the soil not trampled upon,
but planted as sufficient is dug for
receiving a row ; for the looser the soil
the less does frost penetrate, and the
more readily does superfluous moisture
escape.
The compartment may be laid out
level and undivided if the soil is light ;
but if heavy soil is necessarily employed,
it is best disposed in beds six or eight
feet wide. If the staple of the soil be
good throughout, the alleys may be
two feet wide and dug deep, otherwise
they must be made broader, and only
one spit taken out, the earth removed
POT
[ 730 ]
POT
being employed to raise the beds,
which should be in four parallel ridges,
and the sets inserted along their
summits.
Hoclntj. As soon as the plants are
well to be distinguished, they should
be perfectly freed from weeds ; and of
the early crops the earth drawn round
each plant, so as to form a cup as a
shelter from the cold winds, which are
their chief enemy at that season. But
the main crops should not be earthed
up, for earthing up diminishes the crop
one-fourth. Throughout their growth
they should be kept perfectly clear of
weeds.
It is very injurious to mow off the
tops of the plants. The foliage ought
to be kept as uninjured as possible,
unless, as sometimes occurs on fresh
ground, the plants are of gigantic luxu-
riance, and even then the stems should
be only moderately shortened. It is,
however, of considerable advantage to
remove the fruit stalks and immature
flowers as soon as they appear, unless
the stems are very luxuriant. A potato
plant continues to form tubers until
the flowers appear, after which it is
employed in ripening those already
formed.
The very earliest crops will be in
production in June, or perhaps towards
the end of May, and may thence be
taken up as wanted until October, at
the close of which month, or during
November, they may be entirely dug
up and stored. In storing, the best
mode is to place them in layers, alter-
nately with dry coal-ashes, earth, or
sand, in a shed. The best instrument
with which they can be dug up is a
three-flat-pronged fork, each row being
cleared regularly away.
The tubers should be sorted at the
time of taking them up ; for, as the
largest keep the best, they alone should
be stored, whilst the smaller ones are
first made use of.
Potatoes should not be stored until
perfectly dry, and must also be free from
earth, refuse, and wounded tubers.
To raise Varieties. A variety of the
potato is generally considered to con-
tinue about fourteen years in perfection,
after which period it gradually loses
its good qualities, becoming of inferior
flavour and unproductive ; fresh va-
rieties must, therefore, be occasionally
raised from seed. The berries, or
apples, of the old stock, having hung
in a warm room throughout the winter,
the seed must be obtained from them
by washing away the pulp during Feb-
ruary. The seed is then thoroughly
dried and kept until April, when it is
sown in drills about a quarter-of-an-inch
deep and six inches apart, in a rich light
soil. The plants are weeded, and earth
drawn tip to their stems, when an inch
in height : and as soon as the height
has increased to three inches they are
moved into a similar soil, in rows,
sixteen inches apart each way. Being
finally taken up, in the course of Octo-
ber, they must be preserved until the
following spring, to be then replanted
and treated as for store crops.
The tubers of every seedling should
be kept separate, as scarcely two will
be of a similar habit and quality, whilst
many will be comparatively worthless,