COVERING WITH THE PLOUGH. 129 



or read what they have to say ; aucl so every man must judge 

 for himself, to a great extent, on his own farm. Yet, as a 

 rule, as I have said, I think they are our helpers, and need to 

 be encouraged. 



I know upon my own farm plaster works admirably, in 

 many cases. As a rule, I use it upon the higher portions of 

 my farm. I have never made any observations whether its 

 use on the northern or southern slope of a hill was the most 

 beneficial, but I shall take notice of it hereafter. I would 

 advise everybody to try it upon his farm, and not take any 

 man's word for it. Try it for yourselves. It is cheap, and 

 if it will work, I think it is one of the best fertilizers that 

 can be used on a farm. It can be had at any point. Living 

 in New Hampshire, I get mine from West Epping. It can 

 be ordered and come by rail, and it comes very much cheaper 

 than from the Massachusetts markets generally. 



Mr. Hadwen. The important position which the potato 

 holds in the market-garden, the kitchen-garden, and also as a 

 farm crop, is apparent to all. I have heard described in the 

 discussion the manner of growing, but not the most econ- 

 omical way of growing, the potato. There is a great deal 

 of labor expended in the growing of the potato. It is a 

 practice among farmers to spread their manure broadcast, 

 and there is no doubt that that is the best practice that can be 

 pursued. Dressing coming in immediate contact with the 

 potato, has been found for many years injurious. The better 

 way is to spread the dressing and plough it in, and then to 

 plough it out, or plough the second time, and incorporate the 

 dressing with the soil. . Then make your furrows, and drop 

 the potatoes in the furrows, some ten inches apart, and cover 

 with the plough. That is the cheapest way to plant potatoes 

 that I have ever pursued. That leaves the ground in a very 

 uneven condition, where the potato is covered with the plough, 

 and when the first crop of weeds comes forward, the best 

 way is to cross that ground with a harrow, which brings it 

 into a level condition, and breaks up the immense crop ot 

 weeds which is about that time starting into growth. Those 

 of you who have not pursued that course will find that that is 

 more than equal to one hoeing. Then my practice has been 

 to go through the rows with the cultivator and to keep the 

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