STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. §3 



and planted one piece in a place, the more satisfactory will be the re- 

 turns, and I have adopted the following method of planting and cultiva- 

 tion as the one requiring the least expenditure of labor and money, 

 and the most likely to lead to success. 



If possible select new or sod land; prepare in the most thorough 

 manner by frequent plowing and harrowmg; furrow four inches deep, 

 one wav only, and three feet apart. Drop the seed one piece in a place 

 —varieties with small growing tops, one foot apart — those of larger 

 growth from fifteen to eighteen inches — cover with a double shovel plow 

 going twice to a row, throwing a furrow from each side. This forms a 

 slight ridge immediately over the seed, and in case of heavy spring rains 

 (which were quite common a number of years ago), throws the surplus 

 water between the rows, and if the land is likely to wash, prevents the 

 seed from being imcovered. Tf weeds should start, or the surface of the 

 ground become baked, harrow thoroughly both ways; this will extermi- 

 nate the weeds, pulverize the crust, and allow the air and heat to pen- 

 etiate to the seed. As often as the ground becomes baked or the weeds 

 start, the harrowing should be repeated, and may be continued with 

 profit after the plants have made their aijjjearance above ground. A 

 five-tooth cultivator will be found an excellent implement and should 

 be used at least one e each week. The last two plowings are generally 

 done with a double shovel plow. 



As a late potato the Peerless has proved an entire failure ; with me, 

 it ripens earlier than the Early York, and in one month's time after dig- 

 ging, is pcrfectlv worthless for the table. It yields enormously, and the 

 tubers are remarkably tine looking; further than this it does not compare 

 with the recommendations of the parties introducing it. 



SwK.Ki' PoTATOF.s. — In the cultivation of the sweet potatt), I have 

 found the instructions of many writers upon the subject to be very er- 

 roneous. Tf the ridge and drill system of planting could be entirely 

 abandoned, and the plants set in hills about the size and shape of an 

 inverted bushel basket, more than half the ])lants now used might be 

 saved tcj the cultivator, and the yield per acre would be much greater, 

 besides being of better quality and a week or ten days earlier ili;in those 

 planted in drills. 



The rolling, tumbling, twisting, turning, ui)sctting, and caijsi/.ing of 

 the vines during their growth — a practice so generally recommended by 

 all writers — is probably the most systematic and effective method yet 

 discovered for entirelv prohiliiting the formation of potatoes. 



It would l)e equally as sensible for an ajiiarian to visit his bees once 

 or twice per week, and give them a thorough shaking up, when a large 

 yield of honey was the object aimed at, as for the sweet-potato grower 

 tf) be continually belaboring his vines when a large crop of potatoes is 

 the object desired. 



The practice of plant growers selecting the smallest, most inferior 

 potatoes for seed, has been the great cause of so deteriorating the \'el- 

 low Nansemond that it is not worthy of cultivation ; and the Early Jersey, 



