The Potatoe Plague. 59 



When the potatoes are dug out of the ground, we are de- 

 cidedly of opinion that they should not be pitted in the usual 

 way, as the circumstances under which potatoes are placed in 

 ordinary pits are precisely those which tend to hasten their 

 decay. 



We recommend that potatoes when dug should be spread 

 over the field, and not collected into heaps, and if the weather 

 continue dry and free from frost that they should be allowed 

 to lie upon the field for a period of time not exceeding three 

 days. 



The potatoes, after being thus dried and improved in their 

 power of resisting disease by the means proposed, should 

 then be sorted, by carefully separating those which show any 

 tendency to decay. Those potatoes which appear to be 

 sound should then be placed about two inches apart in a 

 layer, and over each layer of potatoes should be placed a 

 layer of turf ashes, or dry turf mould, or dry sand, or burned 

 clay, to the depth of a few inches. Thus will be formed a 

 bed of potatoes, each potatoe being completely separated from 

 the other by a dry absorptive material ; upon this bed, 

 another layer of potatoes should be spread in like manner, 

 and be also covered with the dry materials employed ; as 

 many as four layers may thus be placed one above the other, 

 and when the heap is completed, it should be covered with 

 dry clay, straw, heath, or any other material adapted to 

 protect it from rain. 



In the event of the weather becoming wet these recom- 

 mendations are not applicable. In that case we would advise 

 that the potatoes be packed in small heaps, with either straw or 

 heath interposed, and well covered ; in such a situation they 

 would become as well dried as seems practicable under the 

 circumstances. Where outbuildings exist, it would be ad- 

 visable that this mode of temporary packing should be carried 

 on in those places. If there be no outhouses the heaps may 



