132 On raising Potatoes, 



house during the time of high freshets : which ditch was 

 completely filled up again, by washings from the barn 

 yard and other parts adjoining. Upon these beds I had 

 thrown a covering of corn cobs, which had been collect- 

 ing for several years, and were in different stages of de- 

 composition, from complete manure to the dry cob. In 

 addition to this, I threw upon each heap of earth a cover- 

 ing of brush, which had been trimmed from an adjoining 

 orchard. 



At a time when the wind was favourable, and blew 

 the course of the dirt heaps, I set fire to them, which 

 consumed all the brush and a considerable part of the 

 cobs. The beds were then turned over at different times 

 with the plough, so as to blend the whole together, and 

 one of them planted with potatoes. The potatoes were 

 received in exchange for some of my Yankees, were 

 termed the Scotts Grays, and were rather more than 

 half a peck in quantity. They were all of a suitable 

 size for culinary purposes : each potato being divided 

 into two equal parts, and planted fifteen or eighteen in- 

 ches asunder, and whitened with a coat of plaster of 

 Paris before covering. When they were gathered from 

 the bed, they measured seven and one-half bushels, of 

 quite a large size, and of a superior quality. I have fre- 

 quently made experiments in the potato crop, by planting 

 seed of different sizes, but have uniformly found that I 

 could raise the largest by planting the largest potatoes. 

 And as far as my experience extends, it appears to an- 

 swer the best purpose to divide the potato lengthwise 

 into two equal parts ; it will then generally putrefy, and 

 by its moisture afford a proportion of nourishment to the 

 plant whilst it is young : whereas a potato which is planted 

 whole, will generally be found entire at the time of gath- 

 ering the crop. 



The potato herewith presented, at the time of gathering 



