AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 243 



Fixed oil, - 11 



Malic acid and salts, 1 4 



Water, - 732 



1,000 



535. This plant requires a sandy, rather light, deep, and well 

 stirred soil, which must be located on a dry subsoil ; and the 

 whole either naturally rich in organic matter, or rendered so by 

 manuring. Stiff clay does not suit it Slips or sprouts, from 

 the previous year s tubers, are used for planting, and these are 

 prepared in either of the following manners, (a.) In a bed of 

 earth, make a box with planks set edgewise, and fill in about a 

 foot in depth of good warm horse-stable manure, over which 

 spread two inches of fine rich earth ; on this lay the potatoes 

 so near as to almost touch each other, and cover them from 2 to 

 2^ inches deep with the same earth. If the nights are cold, this 

 bed must be carefully covered with straw, or some other warm 

 covering, which is to be removed during the day. There is a 

 danger in making the bed too warm, and so spoiling the roots. 

 They must be kept tolerably wet after the sprouts appear: when 

 these are 3 inches long, they are fit to set out. (b,) Dig a hole 

 a foot deep, the size of the space required, and fill in with ma 

 nure from the horse-stable, sufficient to make a good hot-bed. 

 It should be raised 10 or 12 inches above the surface of the 

 ground, and the top of the bed should be sand and loam. Place 

 the potatoes in rows, about 6 inches apart, and cover them to 

 the depth of 2-.J- or 3 inches. Afterwards proceed as above. 



536. The ground should be plowed very deep, and thrown 

 up in ridges or hills ; if the latter, such as common potato hills, 

 after they have been hoed. This should be done immediately 

 before planting, so that the soil may be moist and fresh. Set 

 two plants in a hill, 2 or 3 inches apart, and make the top of 

 tha hill sufficiently hollow to hold a pint of water. If there is 



