Cultivation of Arable Land. Potatoes. Taking up of Crops of. 115 



fuing year s crop. It has been the invariable practice of the cultivator to plant 

 them at the fame diftance as in the ordinary method for thofe of common 

 fets, and to manage the crops every way in a fimilar manner. The quantity 

 of produce has moftly been equal to th.at with the common feed : and under this 

 plan, it is afierted no other change in the feed has ever been found neccffary.* 

 But however effectual fuch a method may be in preventing the curl in potatoc 

 crops, it is obvioufly too tedious and expenfive to be introduced into the field 

 culture of the root with advantage. Yet, if further experience mould confirm 

 the above, it feems not improbable but that it might be an ufeful practice in the 

 more limited fcale of garden culture. 



The produce of this fort of crop is fhewnto have attained the full fize, and to 

 be in a proper ftate for being taken up, by the leaves beginning to wither and fall 

 off, and the Hems to decay ; after fuch appearances, they mould, therefore, as, 

 foon as poflible, be removed from the ground, in order that they may be fecure 

 from the danger of froft, which is fometimes apt to take place about the pe 

 riod when the late planted crops become ripe. About the latter end of Sep 

 tember, or beginning of October, is thcfeafon in which the general crop is moftly 

 taken up ; but the garden and other early crops may be taken up at any time, fo 

 as to fuit the particular views and convenience of the cultivator, after the Hems 

 have attained their complete growth, which is known in mod cafes by the pro 

 duction of bloffom. 



The manner of performing this bufmefs is different, according to the extent of 

 the crop, and the mode in which it has been planted. In the garden, and where 

 the fpace of ground occupied by it is but fmall, digging the potatoes out by 

 means of a broad three-pronged fork is probably the beft practice ; as in this way 

 the ground may, at the time the potatoes are taken up, be dug over, and left in an 

 even and regular ftate : but where the crop is of confiderable extent, and the land 

 not of fo light and mellow a nature, but planted in drills for the ufe of the horfe- 

 hoe, the plough may be the moft economical, as the earth feldom digs well. 



For this purpofe, it will only, however, be neceffary to make ufe of a light 

 plough without any coulter, turning up the earth of the rows by the mare ; as by 

 that means the potatoes are lefs in danger of being injured. In this method, in 

 fome cafes, it is the cuftom to fet the fhare againft the rows to a good depth, and 

 at once turn them upj while in others it is the ordinary practice firft to turn a 

 furrow from each fide of the drills, and afterwards to plough up the middle part, 

 in which moft of the potatoes are lodged. And in fome other cafes, after the fide 



* Farmer s Magazine, vol. III. p. 13. 



