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Report of the committee of the board of agriculture, appointed to extract information from the county reports, and other authorities, concerning the culture and use of potatoes
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long from thoſe which had ſprit not more than three inches in length from the eye of the potatoe. The long ſhoots I cut into diſtinct pieces, about the length of four inches each. About the latter end of March, I planted them in trenches, about a ſpade deep and a ſpade wide; ſome in an hori- zontal, others in a perpendicular poſition: it was in a well manured, light ſandy ſoil. They were covered with mould about three inches deep. In a few weeks they made their appearance above the ground. Thoſe fhoots which were not more than three inches in length when I took them from the potatoe, appeared healthy, ſtrong, and vigorous; but thoſe which, from their length, I was under the neceſſity of curtailing, wore a ſickly unpromiſing aſpect, only ſending forth one weak ſlender haulm. The firſt has produced as good a crop as my moſt ſanguine hopes could ex-

pect: it is not exceeded by any in this neighbourhood; but the latter has Pproduced ſcarcely any fruit. I have only been able to raiſe one potatoe from a root; and indeed, for the moſt part, none at all. The ſets from which I took the fhoots were likewiſe planted; and in comparing them with others of the ſame ſort, which were not deprived of any of their ſhoots, I do not find the crop in any degree inferior: there appeared not the leaſt diminution of their vegetative power. I found that it was of no conſequence in what poſition the ſhoots were planted, whether horizontal or perpendicular: both ways anſwered extremely well.

As to the cauſe of the diſorder of curled leaves in potatoes, many and va- rious opinions have been entertained. Perhaps the circumſtance I am about to ſtate, may throw ſome light or information upon it.

I have been in the poſſeſſion for theſe eight years of a very forward pro- ductive potatoe, which from their ſhape we call Mice. Not a ſingle ſet be- ſonging to this potatoe was ever known to produce a criſped curled leaf be- fore this ſeafon: and the cauſe of it I attribute to the following cir- cumſtance:

About the beginning of October I took them out of the ground, and, ac- cording to my old cuſtom, put them upon ſome ſtraw in a vault in the cellar, and covered them with it on the top; where they were left for the winter. It was impoſſible for froſt to approach them. In February laſt a friend requeſted me for a few of them to plant. Accordingly, apout a buſhel were taken from the ſtore, and put in an out-houfe in the yard; where they remained ſometime, during which there were ſeveral fevere froſts. I eaſily perceived that the froſt had affected them; and was therefore determined to try what effect it had upon them. They werg planted; and the conſequence was, that one half of them had curled leaves, and was not half a crop. Thoſe which remained in the vault until they were planted, were not in the leaft difordered. I doubt not but that there are many other cauſes which may produce this diſorder; but the