Potatoes.—­Ground intended for Potatoes should be dug deeply in the autumn, thoroughly drained, well manured and trenched, and left rough on the surface during the winter.  At the beginning of February stand the tubers on end in shallow boxes, and expose them to the light to induce the growth of short, hard, purple sprouts.  Allow one sprout to each tuber or set, rubbing off the rest.  They may be planted at any time from the end of February to the end of March in rows 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 ft. asunder, placing the sets 6 in. deep and from 6 to 9 in. apart.  As soon as growth appears keep the ground well stirred with the hoe to prevent the growth of weeds, and when the tops are 4 to 6 in. high ridge the earth up about them.  Directly flower appears, pick it off, as it retards the growth of the tubers.  They should be taken up and stored in October.  If short of storage room dig up every other row only, and give the remaining ridges an additional covering of earth.  They keep well this way.

Potentilla.—­Handsome herbaceous plants with Strawberry-like foliage.  They will grow in any common soil, and may be increased by dividing the roots or by seeds treated like other hardy perennials.  The shrubby kinds are well adapted for the fronts of shrubberies, and are propagated by cuttings taken in autumn and planted in a sheltered situation.  They flower at midsummer.  Height, 1-1/2 ft.

Potting.—­Great attention must be paid to this important gardening operation.  It is necessary that the pots used be perfectly clean, and, if new, soaked in water for several hours previously, otherwise they would absorb the moisture from the soil to the detriment of the roots.  At the bottom of the pots place a few layers of crocks, and on these some rough mould so as to ensure perfect drainage.  For all delicate, hard-wooded plants one-third of each pot should be occupied with drainage, but a depth of 1-1/2 in. is sufficient for others.  Lift the plant carefully so as not to break the ball of earth round the roots, and fill in with mould round the sides.  In order to supply water readily the pots must not be filled up to the rim.  Pot firmly, and in the case of hard-wooded plants ram the earth down with a blunt-pointed stick; soft-wooded ones may be left rather looser.  Give shade till the plants have recovered themselves.  The soil used for potting should be moist, but not clammy.  A rather light, rich loam is most suitable for strong-growing plants; peat for slow-growing, hard-wooded ones, like Ericas, Camellias, etc.; and a mixture of light loam, one-third its bulk of leaf-soil, and silver sand in sufficient quantity to make the whole porous for quick-growing, soft-wooded plants, such as Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, Fuchsias etc.

Pratia Repens (Lobelia Pratiana).—­This pretty little creeping perennial is very suitable for the front of rock-work.  It requires a well-drained vegetable soil and all the sun it can get.  It is self-propagating.  Though pretty hardy, it is safer to pot it off in autumn and place it in a cold frame throughout the winter.  Flowers are produced in June, and are succeeded till cut off by frost.