162 



them out of tLe gi'oimd, and in degree to the length of time, and care- 

 less manner in which they are kept. This mode of treatment causes 

 the root to loose some of its component and vital parts, so that in the 

 com-se of time it has become enfeebled and lost its native vigor. It has 

 also become weakened by absorption, and farther, the tops receive the 

 juices of the root, and with it some of this adulturated juice ; the new 

 tubers also partake of the same. 



FUTURE CULTURE. 



To get seed roots, select one-fourth acre arable land, (on which water 

 will not stand,) on an eastern slope — new land is the best for this use — 

 fit early in the Spring; furrow four or five inches deep, and two feet 

 apart ; select seed roots that are about the size of a hen's egg, that 

 have touched the ground during the prenous winter. Do not cut them, 

 drop one every six or eight inches apart, in the furrows ; cover them, 

 by filling the furrows, and then put a top-dressing of two inches of 

 straw, or forest leaves, on each row. When the tops are two inches 

 high, pass between the rows with a shovel plow, follow with a hoe,des- 

 tropng the weeds and leveling the ground ; do not hill ; you have no- 

 thing more to do until fall, when the ground begins to freeze ; then 

 cover with half rotten straw, chaff' or forest leaves, three or four inches 

 deep. Your potatoes will now have a chance to ripen and rest dming 

 the winter. I shall not direct you in planting for culinary use next sea- 

 son. The spring following, before your potatoes sprout, you will plant 

 another seed patch, as above directed ; you will now take the residue, 

 and plant a field crop for culinary use. Plant in drills, four or five in- 

 ches deep, and three feet apart ; drop a potato every eight or ten inch- 

 es, cover by filling the furrows ; cultivate or hoe twice. In this way you 

 will get the greatest yield, and best quality. Continue a similar prac- 

 tice from year to year, and from my own experience, I believe you will 

 find yom- potatoes yearly increasing in yield and quality. 



The third year, you may increase yovu- field crop, by "plowing in fine 

 manure. You have now had nature's course, pointed out to you ; her 

 laws are truths ; and I humbly beheve, I have given them a just expo- 

 sition. All who follow my directions, will the second year, see many 

 seed balls, on the vines in their seed patch. These may be planted in 

 the fall as I have done, and cultivated carefully, and good will undoubt- 

 edly result from it, if pursued in nature's own way. The potato will 



