Cultivation of Arable Land. Potatoes. E.rpences of Culture of. 10,9 



Mr. Young advifes the different hoeings to he performed from the beginning of 

 May till Auguft according to the crops and the manner in uhich they are planted, 

 the work being effectually executed in each operation, whether with the hand or 

 horfe-hoes. The frcond horfe-hoeing is ufcfully given with an implement that 

 cuts and loofens thefurface of the ground without turning any furrow, the rows 

 being earthed up with a double-mould-boarded plough ; but the laft operation of 

 this fort is beft executed uith a {him that ftirs the earth of the intervals well by- 

 means of fmall triangular {hares or only coulters ; the loofened mould being well 

 laid up to the rows in the courfe of eight or ten days afterwards by the fame fort 

 of plough as above. 



The expence of cultivating crops of this root, though it will vary much accord 

 ing to the nafure and condition of the foil, the method of planting, and various 

 other circumftances, yet, from the preparation and labour ncccffary in bringing 

 the ground into a fuitable Mate for the reception of the feed, and in putting it in, it 

 muft conftantly be high. It may in general be ftated to be from about five or fix 

 to eight or nine pounds the acre, according to the differences of the land, and the 

 difficulty of obtaining labourers.* Crcpsof this fort are not, however, tobecon- 

 fidered merely in regatd to the immediate profit they may afford, butalfoas the 

 means of preparing and bringing the lands on which they are produced into a fuit 

 able condition for the growtn of grain. As the cultivation of roots of this nature 

 anfwers thepurpofeof an expenfive fummer fallow, the farmer has an advantage 

 even where they only repay the expences incurred in manure and other articles; 

 bui they will, moftly, where proper attention is bcftowed, do confiderably more 

 notwithftanding the heavy expence of preparing the ground, and planting fuch 

 crops. 



* In the Weft Riding of Yorkshire, according to the Agricultural Report of that diftricl, the ex- 

 pence and profit on an acre of potatoes are thus ftated i 



DU. 



Expences&amp;gt; r. s. d. 



Land rent - 150 Produce. en. 



Working and ridging 150 . s. d. 



Seed potatoes, fix facks, at 7s. 220 By 60 fucks, at 5s. 6d. per fuck 16 10 



Cutting ditto, and fetting. 020 810 



Manure an i leading - 220 



Hoeing, weeding, and taking up 150 Profit . 8 9 



810 



Various eftimates of expence and produce on a large fcale, under different modes of preparation and: 

 planting, may befeen in an ingenious paper by Mr. Billingfley, in the fixth volume of the Letters and-i 

 Papers of the Bath Agricultural Society. 



