The Potato in Field and Garden (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ...Some varieties which are excellent in all their points at the time of their introduction deteriorate with such rapidity that in the course of three or four years they are no longer profitable to cultivate. Others, especially those which are too vigorous and coarse when brought out, tone down and improve in quality. An attempt to mention all the varieties at present in cultivation will not be made here; they can be found in seedsmen's lists; but those which are worthy of particular notice will be given. Potatoes vary so much in important characteristics that it is not easy to make a classification which readily shows all the divisions that are desirable for the assistance of the potato grower. Division of Varieties by the Ripening Period. The chief division is that of--Earlies. Second Earlies, or Mid-Season. Late, or Main Crops. The Earlies are those which come first into the market, and are suitable for forcing. Unless required for seed purposes they are dug green. The Secon, d Earlies are those varieties not fit to dig quite so early as the Earlies, but which are suitable for digging green to meet the summer market. Among them are many very heavy-cropping varieties, and they can, therefore, be left to mature before digging. All early varieties have a more or less marked tendency to disease. The Late varieties are those which do not come to maturity until autumn; the later kinds often continue to grow until cut down by frost. Division by Shape. Another division is that of shape, the sections being Round. Kidney. Oval. The Rounds are more liable to go hollow inside, but their shape allows them to be worked to a more even size on the sieves, as the narrow kidneys often work through the meshes endwise. They therefore make more marketable samples. The..