CHAPTER III. 



On Planting Potatoes. Harvesting. Preserving the Crop. 



IN the preceding chapter I could not resist the temptation 

 to copy entire Mr. Thaer's article on potatoes ; it seemed to 

 me so characterized by clearness and perspicuity, so emi- 

 nently practical, that I could not, with propriety, withhold it 

 from a compilation of the kind in hand ; besides the article is 

 new to American readers, and cannot be uninteresting. I 

 continue in the present chapter, the account of Mr. Thaer, 

 embracing some suggestions, the most important to us at the 

 present time, on the subject of keeping and preserving pota- 

 toes through the winter. The extract commences with Mr. 

 Thaer's method of planting, which was alluded to in the 

 previous chapter. 



By means of the marking plough, or furrower, already 

 noticed, lines, or small furrows, are traced at right angles, or 

 obliquely, to the direction which the plough is to take. Five 

 persons are then stationed at equal distances on the line of 

 the plough, each having assigned to him the space which he 

 is to plant. One plough traces the furrow, which is imme- 

 diately set with potatoes ; two other ploughs then follow, and 

 the potatoes are set in the furrow traced by the third. It 

 will be understood that the persons who set them will have to 

 go from one side to the other, each one keeping within his 

 allotted space. Each potatoe is set at the point of intersec- 



