. 241 



the plants will get a vigorous start, and flourish even in a season of 

 drought. 



Sixth — Having preserved seed of the most approved and vigorous 

 kinds — plant as early as possible, always selecting a suitable time for 

 so doing; do not plow or plant in wet weather. If you wish to raise 

 an abundant crop of potatoes, you must drain the land, ploAv it exceed- 

 ingly deep and well, and pulverize it completely ; by these means the 

 roots will have liberty to spread in quest of food, and they will strike 

 deep and draw up nourishment from the soil. 



Seventh — Mould or earth the potatoes in good time, and in a proper 

 manner; if you heap too much clay about the stems, you will bury the 

 tubers too deep, and too far away from the influence of air and heat. If 

 you earth them at too late a season, the stems will continue to grow, 

 and the tubers will not ripen in time, and they will be liable to be de- 

 stroyed by the rot. Bear in mind that potatoes of superior quality 

 are always produced near the surface, and that too much moulding is 

 of more injury than service. 



Eighth — See that the drills or hills are properly shaped, that they 

 throw ofl" rain, and provide suitable drains to carry it off". Rain water 

 in seasons of blight, should be prevented from entering the tops of the 

 drills or hills ; stagnant water should be removed. 



Ninth — Do not plant potatoes in close, well sheltered situations, as 

 they are liable to be blighted in such places. Damp, clayey soils, are un- 

 Buited to the growth of this crop ; potatoes always succeed best in warm 

 sandy land, provided the soil is rich enough to produce them. 



Tenth — The most important point of all, is to have the crop rip© 

 before the season of blight arrives. It is well known that early crops 

 escape this malady better than late ; when the stems and tubers are 

 ripe before blight appears, they are beyond the reach of the malady. 

 The rot is a natural consequence of the blight, for when the leaves and 

 stems of plants are killed by poison of any kind, the decay and death 

 of the root soon follows. 



Early ripening kinds should be selected for sowing, and got into the 

 ground as soon as possible ; well rotted manure should be used, and 

 early mouldings applied, that the plants may be brought to maturity at 

 an early season ; and as soon as the leaves and stems are perfectly with- 

 ered, the tubers should be taken up and removed from the influence cf 

 31 



