MOKTHLT CALENDAR. 331 



allowing too little ; for root-crops are apt to run all to haulm or top if too 

 crowded. Two feet from row to row, and 15 inches from plant to plant, is a 

 good average. If the ground is light or dry, they may be dibbed in ; that is, a 

 line is stretched where the row is to be, on one side of which the holes are 

 made with a potato-dibber— this is a pole or shaft three feet long, having a 

 cross-piece of wood on the top for the handle, and a treddle for the foot eight 

 inches from the lower end, and of sufficient thickness to make a hole that a 

 potato may drop in easily. A potato or set is dropped in each hole, and filled 

 up by drawing a wooden rake over them ; but it is objected to this, that the 

 'pressure of the dibber hardens the soil all round, and checks the spreading of 

 the young tubers; making drills with a spade, and planting that way, is there- 

 fore preferable ; or they may be planted as the ground is dug, merely placing 

 a line, cutting the drill, placing the potatoes 15 inches apart, then digging 

 backward two feet, placing the hue, cutting another drill, and so on. 



934. If the ground is wet, heavy, or, indeed, under any chcurastances, a 

 good plan is to cut a drill with the spade six or eight inches deep. In this place 

 the sets 15 inches apart, then move the line to the next row, cut another drill in 

 the same manner, but fill up the preceding drill with the soil taken out, cover- 

 ing the sets in it. This is an expeditious mode, and will do on any soil. On 

 stiff soils the dibber should never be used, because it forms a basin in which 

 water is likely to stand and rot the potato. About the end of March or 

 beginning of April the main crop may be planted, or it may be deferred till 

 quite the end of the latter month, and smaller plantings may be made till 

 midsummer. When they have grown about eight or ten inches high, a little 

 earth should be drawn up to them— just suflficient to cover any tubers that 

 may grow near the surface ; but too much produces luxuriance of growth in 

 the haulm, and is contrar}"- to nature. The ground should be thoroughly 

 drained. It is generally admitted that the disease is most prevalent in wet 

 soils, or wet seasons. Some recommend cutting off the haulm as soon as the 

 blight appears : this may save them in a great measure from the rot, but stops 

 the growth of the tubers, and whether any real advantage is derived from it 

 is still undecided. It is advisable to pick off all the flowers, unless seed is 

 wanted, as doing so will throw the strength of the plant into the process of 

 forming tubers. As to sorts, they are known to change character when trans- 

 ferred to different soils ; but, for early crops, the ash-leaved kidney is deserving 

 of culture, especially in its improved form. The Early Fulham and Early 

 Manly are both good ; the Forty-fold, a pink potato, is good for main crop ; 

 Eegent and Flourball are good general croppers ; and Fluke's or Kirk's kidney 

 for late crops. 



935. Ttirnip. — A sowing of early Dutch turnip may be made in this 

 month. This crop is very apt to run to seed instead of swelhng at the root, 

 if sown too early ; but a great deal depends on the kind of soil : it does 

 best on a rather retentive soil ; but should be in an open, unshaded piece of 

 ground, for it never does much good if shaded or overhung by trees. A 

 dressing of soot at the time of sowing makes avast difference in them on their 



