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beds prepared before the potatoes siDrout, and dig and plant immedi- 

 ately. This method excludes the potato almost entirely from the air, 

 and keep3 it sound and healthy. I have found no other method to 

 equal it; but sandy or gravelly land must be selected for this use, with 

 deep soil. If any other is made use of it ought to be well under- 

 drained or the beds raised sufficiently to keep them dry. 



In growing potatoes for culinary use, I pursue a different plan, viz: 

 I select a piece of naturally rich, dry land or some that has been made 

 so by cultivation and draining. If sward land, plow early in the fall, 

 to allow it time to rot. As soon as the soil is sufficiently dry in the 

 spring it should be thoroughly plowed and harrowed, ridged and cross - 

 furrowed, (the latter about six inches deep, or two-thirds the depth that 

 the plowing had been done,) so that the ridges and furrows shall be 

 three feet apart each way; drop a whole, sound, fair sized potato, just 

 dug from the ground, (which has been raised and kept as above de- 

 scribed,) in every place where the furrows cross the ridges ; cover with 

 a hoe, about four inches in depth. 



REMARKS, AND FURTHER PRACTICE. 



Ground prepared and planted in this way, will not be likely to be 

 harmed by heavy rains, nor troubled by weeds, as when cultivated in 

 the usual way. The soil will become finer at the time of hoeing, which 

 should be done before the plants are in blossom. The furrows should 

 be turned towards the plants, which finishes the last hoeing, but the 

 plants must be wed if any weeds afterwards attempt to grow. 



Potatoes intended for the next season's use, should bo dug early, and 

 packed in dry sand, (if they are kept out of door,) and covered at least 

 two inches with earth, then with four inches of straw, again with earth 

 suflScient to keep them from chilling or freezing. Latt of all, a roof 

 should be put over them to keep off the sun and the wet, and some 

 barn litter thrown upon the piles after the earth has frozen six inches 

 deep. If kept in a cellar they should be dug later, but packed in dry 

 sand. Potatoes raised for culinary use, should not be used for seed pur- 

 poses. 



The above course pursued for a few years will materially improve the 

 potato. It will no longer cast its blossoms, but bear balls, which should 

 be gathered from the best varieties, packed in dry sand, and kept during 

 the winter free from frost, and free from wet; early the next spring, the 



