The Potatoe Plague. 109 



potatoe having no open space left beneath it, when dropped 

 into the hole. For large fields which cannot well be dug or 

 planted in this manner I would recommend that the ground 

 be prepared and the dung spread exactly as for oats or barley. 

 Then have the ground drilled, and in planting place the seed 

 potatoe in the clear soil, on the back of the half drill, formed 

 by the return of the plough, which half drill should be made 

 larger than ordinary, to bring the seed as near to the centre 

 of the drill as possible, so as to afford it every advantage of 

 the fresh soil to vegetate in. In this way, the fructifying 

 earth, In which the seed is embedded, will secure its health- 

 ful vegetation, and as it progresses in its growth, and so soon 

 as it throws out roots, it will reap the full benefit of the ma- 

 nure contained in the surrounding soil. It is of the utmost 

 importance to have the seed planted, so as it may have 

 the earth both below and above it when put in ; for in keep- 

 ing the seed free from the dung, I apprehend, lies the whole 

 secret, which should be particularly attended to." 



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