t 34 ] 



Potatoes grow beft in a foil that is loofe and deep, 

 where the fwelling of the roots meet the lead ob- 

 flrudion, and where they draw the greateft nourilh- 

 ment nnoft eafily. On this account, where the 

 quantity intended to be raifed is fmall, digging 

 is preferable to ploughing. But if the land be 

 ploughed deep, and well pulverized, fuccefs need 

 not be doubted. They ought to be planted in 

 lines, eighteen inches apart, and at twelve or four- 

 teen inches diftance in each line or row. This will 

 give opportunity for earthing them up with the 

 horfe-hoe while young, which will greatly promote 

 their fertility. If the horfe-hoe is not intended to 

 be ufed, plant them a foot fquare, and earth them 

 up with hand-hoes feveral times, which, although 

 more expenfive, will repay the coft. 



Care fhould, however, be taken, in the latter 

 hoeings efpecially, not to go too near the plants, 

 left you cut the roots. You need only, after they . 

 are weeded by hand, to draw up the earth from 

 the centre round each plant. Vaft quantities may 

 be obtained by a little additional labour in keep- 

 ing them clean, and the land will be left in excel- 

 lent order for fucceeding crops. It is neceflary 

 to obferve, that the fame kinds ought never to be 

 planted twice together on the fame land; nor the 



fame 



