108 Cultivation of Arable Land. Potatoes. After- culture of. Earthing up. 



third earthings have not been attended to, the produce has been confiderably 

 diminifhcd.* 



In Lancafhire the potatoe crops are moftly kept free from weeds by means of 

 the plough, by turning the earth in the intervals of the rows towards the young 

 plants as foon as they prefent themfelves above the furface of the ground, and in a 

 hcrt time afterwards by turning it back again from each fide of them ; and occa- 

 fionally, when the land is very foul, by pafling a fmall triangular harrow between 

 each of the rows. After the weeds have been removed in this way, the mould is 

 again applied to the plants in the fame manner as before, or by means of a double- 

 mould-boarded plough. In this way the crop is rendered clean, and the fine re 

 duced mould well laid up to the ftems of the plants. 



It is, however, the cuftom in fome diftricts, where the planting of this ufeful 

 root is performed on the plain furface without ridges, to depend upon repeated 

 harrowing during the early growth of the crop, for keeping the lands free from 

 weeds as well as for earthing up the plants ; but it is evident, that by this me 

 thod the ground, efpecially when inclined to be moifr, is not only rendered too 

 flat, but little afliftance afforded from the fmall portion of mould that can be brought 

 to the root ftems of the plants. Befides, thefe operations can only be continued 

 for a fhort time during the early growth of the crop. As it is attended with lefs 

 expence, it may, however, be practifed where the foil is light, thin, and liable to 

 become too dry. But, in general, the more perfect and the longer the ftirring of 

 the ground between the rows can be continued, provided the implement does not 

 prefs too deep in the latter ones, the more vigorous and abundant the crops will 

 be. 



The earthing up of crops of potatoes by means of the plough has been objected 

 to by fome cultivators, on the principle that it has a tendency to injure ordeflroy 

 the knotty wires of the plants that extend themfelves laterally; but this can fel- 

 dom be the cafe when the plants are put in at proper diftances, and the operation 

 carefully performed ; but, in order to remove any danger in this way, the procefs 

 may be well executed by means of a fort of cultivator termed a brake, which is 

 much employed by the Kentifh farmers for this purpofe, as well as for cleaning 

 and earthing up different forts of podded crops. 



Mr. Billingfley, however, on the authority of much experience, advifcs that the 

 hoe be never made ufe of after the potatoe plants have begun to throw out their 

 wires or firings, and form their bulbs ; as, fhould weeds afterwards arife, they 

 jriay be removed by means of hand-labour. 







* Farmer s Magazine, vol. III. p, 145. 



