100 Cultivation of Arable Land. Potatoes. Methods of planting of. 



the quantity of produce is not, as has been fuppofed, exactly in proportion to 

 the weight of them, yet that it is in fomc meafure influenced by that circum- 

 ftance, and their having a fuitable number of root-buds, as well as a due pro 

 portion of pulpy material furrounding them, to enfure the perfect evolution and 

 fupport f f the plants in the early ftages of their growth, and until they become 

 completely eftablifhedin the ground. 



With refpect to the quantity of feed or fets, in general from twenty-five to 

 thirty buftiels will be required for the acre, when dibbled in at ten inches diftance 

 in every direxiic&quot;, and from eight to twelve when every other furrow is planted at 

 a foot from fet to fet. 



Methods of Planting. In the putting of potatoe crops into the ground, dif 

 ferent modes a re adopted in different circumftances of foil and fituation. On 

 all the more dry and fandy defcriptions of land, the furface of the ground fhould 

 not be raifed, but kept as much as pofTible on the flat ; but where the climate is 

 damp, and there is more moifture in the foils, and iefs danger of their becoming 

 too dry for the perfect growth of the potatoe, and on all the thinner forts of 

 foils, it may be the moft ad vifable method to raife the land into what is termed 

 one-bout ridges ; as, in this way, the depth of the ftaple is considerably aug 

 mented, the manure is more concentrated for the fupport of the crop, a better 

 bed is provided for the fibrous roots and wires of the plants to eftablifh and ex 

 tend themfelves in, the danger of ftagnant moifture guarded againft, and the after 

 culture of the crops rendered more eafy, beneficial and convenient, by which they 

 may be kept more clean and free from weeds, and be earthed up at different times 

 fo as to infure the moft full and perfect extenfion of the roots in the fine mould 

 t hat is thus conftantly laid up. And as the whole of the procefs is capable of 

 being performed by means of the common plough and a horfe or two, it is pro 

 bably the moft advantageous where fuch crops are cultivated on land that has 

 been fome time in the ftate of tillage. Where the ridges are only required to be 

 fmall, the operation is completed in one bout of the plough, or by going up with 

 one furrow and laying another up to it in returning, fo as to produce a ridge 

 in the middle. This is the method that is the moft commonly purfued in thofc 

 diftricts that are the moft engaged in the cultivation of this valuable root. 



It is the cuftom in the Lancafhire practice of planting, after the land has been 

 harrowed fine and level on the furface, to make equidiftant drills, the length of 

 the field, in doing which, the plough, after making a furrow up the field, muft 

 be drawn down again on the contrary fide clofe by the fame, throwing the foil 

 equal heights on each fide. Thefe drills are made as wide and deep as will 

 make them capable of containing the dung, which is to be laid in the bottom of 



