78 The Potato. 



Three white kidney potatoes were placed horizontally on the 

 bottonn, and just covered with a little fine earth ; then another 

 layer, similarly covered : and then a third layer ; so that the wliole 

 consibted of three layers of potatoes, with just earth enough 

 between to keep them from touching each other ; and the upper- 

 most layer about 2^ inches under the surface. A iew diseased 

 leaves and stems were placed on the surface of pit No. 1 ; and 

 then watered with half of a small garden-pan of water, with a 

 fine rose; pit No. 2 was watered with the remaining water; 

 pit No. 3 had a large slate put on it. 



September 28, No. 1 pit had each of the upper three potatoes 

 slightly affected. 



January 23, 1858, No. 1. Three upper potatoes quite rotten. 

 „ No. 2. Three upper much affected. 



,, No. 3. Three upper not diseased. 



In all three pits both the under lai/ers icere free from amj taint. 



If, then, we endeavour to epitomize the conclusions arrived 

 at, we find that in selecting ground for a potato-patcli we should 

 choose the higlier part of a field ; that the soil sliould be light 

 and friahle, and that no farmyard or nitrogenous manure should 

 be etnjdoyed. The first ploughing should be deep, early in the 

 autumn, and the piece brought into earth soon after Christmas. 

 The manure should be 20 hogsheads of lime per acre, placed 

 conveniently in heaps of one hogshead each. About 14 lbs. of 

 common salt, dissolved in three or four gallons of water, should 

 then be sprinkled from a large-rose watering-pot over each heap, 

 and the wliole, made up compactly, should be deeply covered over 

 vvitli earth. In two days it is fit for use, and in practice I prefer 

 throwing it abroad on the surface just before tlie jnoucjJi, so that it 

 may remain uncovered as short a time as possible; then all being 

 ready, a drill is made and the first row of sets is deposited therein, 

 the depth being about 4 inches, at an average distance of 15 

 inches set from set ; and the one-way or turn-wrest plough being 

 used lor the purpose fills in the trench with the lime and salt on 

 the jwtato. Ttie next row should be from 24 to 26 inches from 

 the former, and is covered when planted as before. If the ground 

 is in a fit and proper state of tilth, it presents a level surface when 

 finished ; but as soon as the plants appear and the rows can he 

 seen, men should be sent to the field with hoes, who from the middle 

 of the al lei/ s\\ou\d ridge up the row, gently but completely covering 

 every plant ; in a fortnight or three weeks' time the plants will 

 be again two or three inches above the ridge, which is again 

 heaped up from the centre of the alley. Now comes the utility 

 of the information derived from the Whil borough experiment 

 (see p. 74) and the subsequent experience: in June, choosing a 

 fine clear sunny day towards the latter end of that month, 1 send 



