238 AGRICULTURAL ESS ATS. 



The ground is. dug for potatoes, in the months of March and 

 April, to the depth of about nine inches. (This digging would 

 cost sixpence per pole, if hired.) After putting in the dung, the 

 potatoes are planted in rows, about twelve or fourteen inches 

 distant. The sets are placed about four or five inches apart in 

 the rows. 



When the potatoes conie above the ground, the weeds are 

 destroyed by the hoe ; and then laid up on both sides to the 

 shoots. And this is repeated from time to time, as the seasons 

 require. Hand weeding is also used, when necessary. 



In the month of October, when the potatoes are ripC; she 

 takes off all the stalks, (or haulm) of the potato, which she se- 

 cures, to produce manure, by means of their pig. She now 

 goes over the whole with a rake, an-d takes off all the weeds ; 

 and before taking up the potatoes, she sows her wheat on as 

 much ground as she can clear of potatoes that day. They are 

 taken up with a three-pronged fork ; in which her husband ass- 

 ists : and by the same operation, the wheat is covered deep. 

 She leaves it quite rough ; and the frost mellows the earth, and 

 by the earth falling down, it adds much strength and vigor to 

 the wheat plants in spring. Her crops of wheat havo been of 

 iaie always good ; and even this year, (which in this country, 

 has not been favorable for the wheat crop,) she has threshed 

 fifteen Winchester bushels from thirty-four poles ; though part 

 of her wheat had suffered much by the mildew. ,The straw of 

 her wheat she carefully preserves for litter to her pig, and tO' 

 increase her manure. When her potatoes are gathered, she 

 separates the best for use, then a proper quantity for seed, and 

 the small potatoes are giveiv to her pig. 



