00 



;4 THE FARMER'S MANUAL-, 



quantum of starch, and are the mildest and best for 

 the table ; the Spanish or hog potatoe, (so called,) is 

 the most inferior, both for the table and market, and 

 is fit only for stock. The coloured potatoes require 

 the strongest soils, and will not admit of late plant- 

 ing, as they require the longest time for their growth ; 

 they should generally be planted between the first of 

 April and the middle of June ; the white and yellow 

 potatoes will do well as late as the 20th of July ; they 

 will obtain a good size by the 20th of September. 

 It must be understood, that this late planting requires 

 a rich soil. I have generally found, that lands of 

 any description of soil, that will produce 20 bushels 

 of corn, will produce 100 bushels of potatoes ; allow- 

 ing 1 dollar per bushel for the corn, gives $ 20 00 

 25 cents per bushel for the potatoes, gives 25 00 



i 1.1 

 Leaving a balance in favour of the potatoes of $ 5 



This, in the same ratio, if the land will yield 40 bush- 

 els of corn, will give a balance in favour of the pota- 

 toe crop of $10; together with another advantage, 

 :oo important to pass unnoticed. Indian-corn may be 

 considered as one of the most exhausting crops, and 

 potatoes one of the least, 



When it is considered, that the true art of farming 

 consists in obtaining the greatest profit from an acre 

 of land without exhaustng the soil, or rather by cul- 

 ture to increase its fertility, the balance will be found, 

 in an increased ratio, in favour of the potatoe crop. 



No field culture admits of a greater variety than 

 that of the potatoe ; some farmers select the largest 

 for seed, and plant one in a hill; others select the 

 smallest, and plant several in a hill ; some divide the 

 largest potatoe into two parts, and plant one half in 

 a hill ; others both halves ; some divide both the 

 targe and small potatoes into four parts, and place 

 the four pieces in the hill at 4 to 8 inches asunder ; 

 others cut out the eyes of the potatoe, and plant them 



