IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES. $$ 



between each bed lengthways, and three feet endways. On 

 each acre there were 1230 beds, and 6150 sets, or live to 

 each bed, viz. one at each corner, and one in the middle. 

 The sets of potatoes, when planted according to the usual 

 most approved practice, in three feet stitches, and nine 

 inches apart, amount to about twenty thousand. In the Advantages. 

 present, and indeed in all seasons when potatoes are scarce, 

 the saving in planting is a considerable object. A great 

 advantage also arises in being able to keep the potatoes and 

 manure from wet. In the late uncommonly wet season 

 I sustained little or no loss in my mode, which was not 

 the case in many of the driest grounds. This plan unites 

 hand hoeing with horse culture, and will be found service- 

 able in wet soils. 



The lateness of planting, together with the premature 

 frosts, prevented my forming a fair judgment as to the 

 quantity per acre, which might be obtained by this method. 

 My view in fixing upon this plan was, to enable me to 

 judge of the effects of evaporation, by being able to con- 

 tinue my operations for a longer period. I have no doubt 

 but that in common seasons, notwithstanding the increased 

 distance, the whole ground would be covered. 



My experiments on cabbages this season commenced by Cabbages, 

 planting them early in April. From the rain which fell sub- 

 sequently, and continued till the beginning of May, suc- 

 ceeded by severe east winds, the earth became so hard and 

 baked, that the plants had made very little progress. 



In the first week in June the ploughs were set to work : Striking bene- 

 as they started, Mr. Ponsonby of Hail Hall was present, Jj 'f^ ^^ 

 and saw the crop ; it was with difficulty, that the ground vais. 

 was first broken, but by the end of the week it was brought 

 into fine tilth. Notwithstanding the whole week had been 

 dry, with a strong sun and severe east wind, yet such was 

 the progress in growth of the cabbages, that when seen 

 again by that gentleman on the Saturday, he could scarce 

 be persuaded they were the same plants. 



During these operations I had been making constant ex- Evaporation 

 periments with glasses, contrived for the purpose, to ascer- from l ! ie 

 tain the quantity of evaporation from the land, which I 

 found to amount, on the fresh ploughed ground, to nine 



hundred 



