Cultivation of Arable Land Potatoes Times &f planting Choice of Seed. &amp;lt;J;5 



Time of planting. The putting of this fort of crop into the ground fhould 

 always be performed in the early fpring months, as foon as pofllble after the 

 danger of froft is over, which, in the more fouthcrn ditlricts, is generally from 

 about the middle of March till the latter end of April; and, in the northern 

 ones, it is moftly from about the middle of April until towards the clofe of 

 May, according to the difference in the ftate of the climate. The earlier the 

 crop can be got into the ground, the better it becomes, as the potatoes are 

 fuid to turn out more mealy, and of a finer flavour. Befides, they have a bet 

 ter chance of being taken up and removed from the land, while the feafon is 

 dry; and there is lefs rifk of injury from moifture and frofts after they are fit for 

 taking up. It may alfo be added, that the land will derive much advantage 

 from being ploughed up while it is in a dry condition, after the potatoes have 

 been removed, as in this way it is preferved in a lefs moid ftate during the win 

 ter, and the weeds are more effectually deftroyed.* But at whatever period the 

 crop may be put into the ground, the bufinefs mould be performed as much as 

 poflible when the weather is dry, and the land not too much foaked with moi- 

 fture, as under fuch circumftances the early vegetation of the crop always proceeds 

 in a more regular and expeditious manner, by which the produce is generally 

 rendered better in quality and more abundant.. 



Seed. In the choice of potatoe feed for the purpofe of planting, it is neceflary 

 to attend to the differences in the varieties, in refpect to forwardnefs, their quali 

 ties as- food for manor animals, and the variation in their productivcnefs j as 

 upon the properly adapting thefe tothe nature of the foil and climate, as well as 

 the views of the cultivator, much advantage may probably be obtained in the cul 

 ture of the crop. It is generally recommended, that the fets- mould, be taken; 

 from fuch potatoes as are the- fineft and moft perfect of their kinds, as By fuch, 

 means better crops may be produced, at the fame time that there will be lefs 

 rifk of their being attacked by difeafe. And it is. contended by fome, that;, from 

 the eyes being ftronger in fuch largc-fized potatoes, ftronger and more vigorous, 

 plants are produced, and of courfe a larger produce afforded-; the difference 

 between the ufe of large and fmall potatoes, for the purpofe of feed, being in the 

 proportion of thirty facks to the acre in favour of the former. f It may alfo be 

 of great advantage in the culture of this root, to take the. feed or fets from fuchv 

 varieties as have not been too long cultivated, as it has been found, that the con 

 tinuing the cultivation of the fame forts for fome length of time has a tendency 

 not only to injure the quality, but leffen the quantity of the produce. J It has; 



* Campbell, in Bath Papers, vol. IX.. f Experienced Farmer, vol. JL 



t Bath Papers, vol. IX. 



