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laid by for planting ; these should be mixed with soil, and kept separate 

 from the main crop until they are required. 



I prefer planting potatoes in drills to every other mode of cultivation, 

 as by this means the plants are placed at equal distances, and have each 

 an equal share of earth and air. 



The vitality of the potato has been very much injured by carelessness 

 in storino:, and errors in its cultivation. The following is a summary of 

 the principal causes of its failure : 



1. Late planting. 



2. Having the sets too long cut before planting. 



3. Permittina: the sets to remain too long uncovered in the drills or 

 hills, exposed to the sun. 



4. Planting sets of unhealthy tubers, or of delicate kinds, which are 

 unable to withstand the blight. 



.5. Planting the same kind of seed too frequently in the same soil; a 

 frequent change being necessary. 



6. Using badly prepared manure — many farmers err in this particu- 

 lar; dry, unrotted manure, is sometimes of more injury than service; 

 green manure frequently destroys the sets by fermenting in the ground. 

 Old neglected dunof is cfenerallv worthless, as it has lost all its valuable 

 properties, and has become a nursery for weeds and wireworras. 



7. Having the drills too long made before planting, and the manure 

 left too long exposed to the sun. In this case the soil and manure be- 

 'Come too dry, and are deprived of that degree of moisture which is 

 necessary to support vegetation. 



8. Want of care in weeding and in earthing the crop. 



9. Putting the tubers too early in very large quantities, into pits or 

 cellars, where they are liable to become heated, and thus to receive ma- 

 terial injury. 



10. Want of care in harvesting and in wintering the potatoes. In 

 the first case they receive injury before they are taken out of the field; 

 in the latter, after they have been stored for the winter. 



The numerous theories and pretended antidotes which for such a 

 length of time have distracted the farmer, should be rejected, and entire 

 rehance placed on the skillful management and cultivation of the crop. 

 "The rot is caused by the ravages of an insect," says one. "Not at 

 all," says another; "it is plainly a parasitical funofus. I saw it with a 



