THE FARMER'S MANUAL. 55 



promiscuously, as they plant Indian-corn, 4, 5, or 6 in 

 a hill, and thereby save the potatoe for their stock; f 

 have found all these modes to answer well, and have 

 heard good farmers extol each of these modes as 

 being the best, according to their practice. To illus- 

 trate this subject, I will give an extract from the 

 Pennsylvania Farmer: 



" On the 2d day of May, I had six large potatoes that 

 weighed 2lbs. and 2oz. cut into thirty-three sets, with 

 two eyes each, which were planted in a stiff, deep soil, 

 with a small quantity of rotten dung scattered under and 

 over the sets, which were placed about 6 inches deep, 

 at the following distance in the rows, divided by pegs ; 

 No. 1, 11 cuts, at 6 inches distance. 

 No. 2, 1 1 do. at 9 do. do. 

 No. 3, 11 do. at 12 do. do. 

 They were hoed twice. On the 10th of October, the 

 earth was carefully drawn from off the plants, which 

 were extended across the rows. The produce was 

 as follows : 



No. 1 contained 124 potatoes, which weighed 

 28lbs. lOoz. and occupied 6 feet in length. 



No. 2 contained 130 potatoes, which weighed 

 32lbs. 2oz. and occupied 9 feet in length. 



No. 3 contained 145 potatoes, which weighed 

 311bs. 2oz. and occupied 13 feet in length; total 

 9 libs. 14oz. or 123cwt. to the acre*." 



* All Nature is governed by fixed and immutable laws, or princi- 

 ples, and the true art of husbandry consists in a correct knowledge 

 of the laws, or principles, of each plant, either separately, or collec- 

 tively, in connection with other plants, and in adapting the culture 

 directly to the assistance of nature. 



By this example it will be seen, that the potatoe does not strike 

 deep in the earth ; but extends horizontally, at a given distance, be- 

 neath the surface, where it can derive its proper nutriment from 

 the sun, air and rains ; if you plant below this natural state, or 

 earth up your plants by hilling too much, you counteract nature, and 

 check the growth of the first settings, by covering them below their 

 natural depth, and if you hill up your potatoes too often, you will in- 

 crease the number of potatoes in your hills ; but they will be small, 

 for they will form new sets at each hoeing ; therefore, hoe but twice , 

 if it is possible to keep down the weeds without a third hoeing. 



