430 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the proper size. The practice of cutting potatoes into small pieces 

 and putting two or three crumbs in a hill is a relic of ignorance and 

 superstition, worthy only of being classed with such foolishness 

 as planting peas on the full of the moon, and castrating young 

 animals according to the signs of the zodiac, and cannot too soon 

 be done away with. Let the crumbs remain in one piece, and at 

 least you wnll save the time of cutting. The rows should be at 

 sufficient distance apart to allow the horse and cultivator to work 

 freely between them — three and a half feet will be found the 

 proper distance. Compai'ative experiments have proved that the 

 best yield per acre is obtained when planted twelve to eighteen 

 inches apart in the rows. There are probably more planted in this 

 State at a distance of two and a half feet than there are at a dis- 

 tance of one and a half feet, but experience proves that there is 

 little if any difference in the yield per hill, while the yield per acre 

 is increased in proportion to the increase in the number of hills. 

 The furrows for planting should be opened but slightly, unless 

 manure is to be applied to the hill, and the covering should be 

 carefully and evenly done. 



5. After Culture. 



Clean culture should be practiced by every one who grows a hill 

 of potatoes. There is no crop grown that better repays the grower 

 for unremitted efforts for the extermination of all weeds, than will 

 the potato ; and there is none grown which a rank growth of weeds 

 will injure more. As soon as the plants are up the cultivator 

 should be run between the rows, and the soil around the hills 

 stirred with the hand-hoe. It is not necessary that the earth be 

 hilled up any around the plant at this hoeing. Indeed if it be 

 done as soon as it ought, the plants will not be large enough to 

 admit of it. This stirring of the soil kills all the young weeds 

 which have started into life and leaves the ground clean and mel- 

 low. The field should now remain till the weeds again show 

 themselves, or till the plants are large enough for a second hoeing. 

 At this second hoeing the plants should be moderately hilled up, 

 and the whole surface left light, mellow and free from weeds. If 

 any further hoeing is found necessary, it should be done by cut- 

 ting the weeds near the surface without stirring the soil around 

 the hill to any considerable depth. 



The practice so extensively prevailing in some parts of the 

 State, of excessively hilling the plants by the repeated use of the 

 " Horse Hoc," is highly objectiouable from two points of view : 



