Cultivation of the Potatoe. 15 



locks, than when they are arranged in continuous lines. My 

 farmers are more willing to raise potatoes planted singly, for 

 the fourteenth part of the produce, than for the tenth when 

 they are planted in rows, for a man will raise eighteen schef- 

 fies of the former in a day. where of the latter he would raise 

 only ten, even though they may have been cultivated with 

 the same care. This saving of time in taking the crop is of 

 great importance. 



Such are the reasons which induce me to prefer the meth- 

 od of setting potatoes at moderate distances, and arranging 

 them in lines in all directions. I admit that when this meth- 

 od is adopted, a somewhat larger extent of surface is required 

 for the production of a given quantity ; but the great saving 

 of labor, and the excellent preparation of the land which it 

 affords, are of much greater importance. 



In setting potatoes regard must be had to the state of the 

 weather. In this country I never plant them till the soil has 

 become heated ; and I have always observed that the pota- 

 toes set Jast were the first to come up. I have planted them 

 with success till the beginning of June ; but I endeavor to 

 get the setting finished by the middle of May. If the soil 

 contain ever so small a quantity of clay, it is absolutely ne- 

 cessary to defer the planting till it is perfectly dry, and no 

 longer adheres to the implements. 



As early as possible in autumn I break up the soil to the 

 depth of two inches lower than before, and then pass the har- 

 row over it. In winter the dung is carted and uniformly 

 spread. At the beginning of spring, this dung is buried by a 

 light ploughing. I like to have a portion of the manure 

 brought up to the surface by this operation, because a greater 

 quantity is then collected around the roots of the potatoe. 



