144 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



some gain to the crop, when the buds are plucked before they 

 come to blossom. 



HARVESTING AND STORING should not be commenced un- 

 til the tops are mostly dead, as the tuber has not arrived at 

 full maturity before this time. They may then be thrown 

 out of the hills by a harrow, plow, or some hand implement. 

 They ought not to be exposed to the sun for any length of 

 time, but may dry on the surface in a cloudy day, or be gath- 

 ered into small heaps with some of the tops spread over them, 

 until freed from the surface moisture, when they may be stored. 

 Those selected for seed, should be placed in small piles in the 

 fieldj or in thin layers in a cool, dry place in the cellar 

 where the air is excluded and no heating or injury can oc- 

 cur. Such as are intended for consumption may be put in 

 dry bins or barrels in the store room, covered with straw and 

 dry sand or loose earth to prevent the circulation of air, or 

 buried in the field. Where convenient of access, a hole may 

 be excavated in the north side of a hill, or under a shade ift a 

 porous soil. When first stored, the potatoes should be cover- 

 ed for a few days with a slight thatch of straw so arranged ns 

 to shed the rain. A partial sweating or heating soon takes 

 place, which drives off some of the moisture, after which 

 they may be lightly covered with earth and in this way they 

 may remain till the commencement of severe frosts, when 

 they should be effectually protected from frost and rain till 

 wanted in the spring. A northern exposure or shade will 

 shield them from any injurious effects of the sun on the ap- 

 proach of warm weather. If stored on level ground, a hole 

 should be excavated for their reception, from 1 to 2 feet in 

 depth and 4 to 5 in width and of any length required. The 

 potatoes are then ridged up like the roof of a house, thatched 

 and covered as previously described. A ditch lower than 

 the base must encircle the heap when the soil consists of 

 clay, from which an outlet conducts away all the water,- as 

 any left upon them will inevitably produce decay. 



DISEASES. The potato has long been subject to the curl. 

 From numerous experiments made in Scotland to avoid this 

 disease, it has been found that seed from potatoes which 

 were gathered before fully ripe gave a much better and 

 surer crop. It would be well to try the experiment in this 

 country where there is any deficiency of product from want 

 of full and healthy developement. Potatoes are also afibctefl 

 by the scab and grub, against whose attacks there is no rem- 

 edy unless in a change of seed and location. The rot has for 



