On raising Potatoes, 133 



weis^hed tuo pounds and three quarters, but owing to 

 evaporation is now reduced to two pounds and one half. 

 They were generally of a large size, and owing to the 

 richness of the bed and their elevated situation, being 

 raised fifteen or eighteen inches above the surface of the 

 ground adjoining, of a superior quality. One bunch 

 which I dug up separately, afforded thirteen potatoes, all 

 of them of a large size. 



If I had planted with potatoes the whole of the earth 

 which came out of the ditch, they would have amounted 

 to upwards of thirty bushels from a similar yield, which 

 would have been a full compensation for all the expense 

 and trouble I was at, in procuring and preparing the earth : 

 leaving me in possession of not less than two hundred 

 cart-loads of excellent manure, free from expense. I am 

 therefore of the opinion it would be advantageous to pre- 

 pare a bed in the same manner, every season ; which is 

 very practicable for all those who live adjoining streams 

 of water, and can procure pond earth even if of an inferior 

 quality ; because by the addition of a small quantity of 

 manure from the barn yard, and an admixture of common 

 salt, it is in the power of every such person to raise pota- 

 toes sufficient for the use of his family, of a superior 

 quality : the crop being a full compensation for the ex- 

 pense and trouble of collecting and preparing the bed. 



In the fall of the year, when the swamps and low pieces 

 of ground are the clearest from water, a couple of hands, 

 each having a cart and horse, would collect in a week or 

 ten days, a quantity of earth sufficient for the raising of po- 

 tatoes enough the ensuing season for the use of a common 

 family ; and the earth by being completely pulverised in 

 tending the potatoes, will affijrd sufficient manure, of a 

 good quality, for a top dressing of ten or fifteen acres t 

 which may either be used immediately after digging the 

 potatoes upon a wheat fallow, or sufiered to remain until 

 Aa 



