91 Culthat Ion of Arabic Land Potatoes Preparation of Land for 



induce the curl ; and in the garden culture of this root, we have conftantly 

 found it difadvantageocs by producing the canker, whether employed in the 

 effete cr flare of carbonat^ or in its more adive or caujlic one. 



But though lime in its uncombined (late may not be capable of being made 

 ufe of with much utility j where the practice of paring and burning is had re- 

 courfe to, and there is a condderable portion of aflies from the combuftion of 

 the fward and the coarfe vegetable products upon it, full crops of potatoes 

 may be raifed by the ufe of the afhcs alone. In this way, the coarfe unpro 

 ductive pafture grounds in various parts of the kingdom, and extenfive tracts 

 of ufelefs waftc lands, may be brought into a ftate of cultivation in an cafy and 

 profitable manner ; as after a crop of potatoes, put in in this method, the land 

 will, in mofl inftances, be in a proper condition for the growing of grain crops. 



On the fea coafts, in the northern parts of the ifhnd, fea-weed is faid to have 

 been found ufeful in the growth of the potatoe.* 



Whatever fort of manure may be made ufe of in the growth of potatoes, it i& 

 neceffary that the quantity be fully fufficient for the purpofe of providing not 

 only a fuitable bed for the eftablifhment of the roots of the plants, but alfo for 

 affording a due fupply of nourimment during the whole time of their growth, 

 as upon thefc circumftances the fuccefs of the crop feems in a great meafure to 

 depend. 



After a very full and extenfive experience in the cultivation of this vegeta 

 ble, an able and intelligent agricultor advifes, that not lefs than twenty cart 

 loads, of thirty bufhels each, fliould be applied, as the richer the ground 

 the more abundant the crop ; and that, however ftrong the foil may be, the 

 farmer mould not depend upon it to the exclufion of manure.f 



Mr. Young advifes the proportion of from twenty-five to thirty-five cubical 

 yards to the acre to be made ufe of. And where it is very long or littery the 

 quantity of forty. 



Where the fets are put in in the drill method, the manure fliould be depofited 

 as evenly as poflible at the bottoms of them ; and in the other modes it muft 

 conftantly be fpread out in a regular manner, in order that the crops may be 

 brought forward with as much uniformity as pofltble. In railing crops of the 

 early kinds of potatoes, it may be a more advantageous practice to apply the 

 manure for the previous crop; as where the contrary is the cafe, the haulm or 

 ftems of the plants arc apt to become too luxuriant, and thereby prevent the 

 roots from acquiring a proper fize. Befides, it is probable that the flavour of 

 the potatoe may be better, and the fubftance lefs watery. 







* Englifli Encyclopaedia, art. Husbandry ; and Bath Papers. i Billingfly, in Bath Papers, vol. VI, 



5 



