THE POTATO. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



SYSTEMS OF PLANTING. 



THERE are three systems in vogue, the drill, flat, and 

 " lazy-bed," the latter a method peculiar to Ireland. The 

 drill system is the one most generally adopted, both on 

 the farm and in the garden. 



The Drill System. In the garden the drills are 

 usually drawn four to five inches deep on heavy, and six 

 inches on light soils. Shallower drills are, however, recom- 

 mended. See Chapter X. Sometimes the drills are drawn 

 before planting, and this answers all right w T hen the soil is 

 dry and not likely to be rendered too close and compact by 

 the treading incidental to planting and covering in the 

 drills. Where the soil is heavy and pasty and liable to be 

 made too close and compact by treading, it is a good plan 

 to form the drills one at a time, plant the tubers, turn over 

 the soil with a fork or spade till a sufficient width has been 

 dug to form a second drill, and so on. In this way the 

 soil is left uniformly light, and when rooting commences 

 there are no compressed lumps of earth to restrict develop- 

 ment of the roots. In forming the rows or drills, it is de- 

 sirable, as far as possible, to let them run due north and 

 south. This enables the sun to reach both sides of the 

 rows during the day; whereas, if running east and west, 

 only the south side of the rows will get any sun. We 

 have tried the experiment of growing other vegetables, be- 

 sides potatoes, in row r s running east and west, and north 

 and south, and have found the best results by following 

 the latter rule. On the farm the drills or rows are usually 



