ROOTS. 169 



Planting.- To produce abundantly, potatoes require a 

 fertile soil, and if not already sufficiently rich, spread manure 

 on the surface before plowing. If a tough sod, plow the 

 preceding fall ; or if friable, it may be done just before plant- 

 ing ; but in all cases, the land must be put in such condition 

 as to be perfectly loose and mellow. Hills are the most con- 

 venient for tillage, as they admit of more thorough stirring of 

 the ground with the cultivator or plow. Medium size, uncut 

 potatoes have been ascertained, from numerous experiments, 

 to be the best for planting, but when seed is scarce, it is 

 sometimes economical to divide them. Two potatoes should 

 be placed in each hill ; or if in drills, they should be planted 

 singly, ten inches apart. The distance both of hills and 

 drills must depend on the strength of the soil and the size of 

 the tops, some varieties growing much larger than others. 

 Cover with light mold to the depth of four or six inches, 

 and if the soil be light, leave the ground perfectly level ; if 

 cold, heavy or moist, let the hill be raised when finished. 

 Subsoil plowing is of great benefit to potatoes, as to most 

 other crops, whenever the soil will justify its use. The sets 

 cut from the seed-end, give a much earlier crop than those 

 from the root. 



Cultivation, When the shoots first appear above the 

 ground, run the plow through them and throw the earth 

 well to the plants ; and no injury results, if the tops are par- 

 tially, or even entirely covered. The hoe is scarcely required, 

 except to destroy such weeds as may have escaped the 

 plow. The ground should be several times stirred before the 

 tops interfere with the operation, but never after they come 

 into blossom. Very large crops have been produced by top- 

 dressing with compost, or well-rotted chip manure, soon 

 after the plants make their appearance. This is carried to 

 the field and spread from a light, one horse cart, the wheels 

 passing between the rows ; but the same results would pro- 

 bably be attained, by placing the land in the best condition 

 before planting, if followed by the nicest cultivation after- 

 wards. There is some gain to the crop, when the buds are 

 plucked before they come into blossom. 



Harvesting and Storing should not be commenced until 

 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 double mold-board plow, or by a potato 

 hook, or some other hand implement. They ought not to be 

 exposed to the sun for any length of time, but may dry on 

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