364 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



and Indian corn together, in alternate rows, or drills. The 

 advantages of this mode of culture would seem, to be these : 



Indian corn, in order to afford the greatest quantity of 

 ears, requires to stand more widely separated, than it is 

 when grown in the usual way ; while, at the same time, 

 other plants, of more humble growth, may be raised in 

 the intervals, without essential injury to the growth of the 

 corn. 



It would seem, that as much as nearly one fourth of ad- 

 ditional aggregate product may, in this way, be raised from 

 any given quantity of ground. 



Before closing this article, some notice should be taken 

 of the sweet-potatoe, which is cultivated in the more south- 

 erly States. 



It delights in a mellow sandy soil, and the richer the bet- 

 ter. The potatoes prepared for seed' are previously raised 

 in the following manner: 



A piece of ground is properly mellowed with the plough, 

 and is then thrown up in ridges by two furrows backed to- 

 gether, at the distance of about three feet apart. These 

 ridges are then cut crosswise, with a corner of the hoe, at 

 the distance of about fourteen inches. Pieces of the vines 

 of the growing crop of this root are then taken, of about 

 a foot in length, and laid in the places thus cut down, with 

 their lengths across the ridges, and they are then covered 

 sufficiently deep with the hoe. 



From these layers, roots and branches will grow ; and in 

 the Fall a crop of potatoes will be produced, of about a 

 fourth of the usual size. These are to be dug, and laid 

 away in moist sand, before they have dried ; and the next 

 Spring are to be used as seed for the next crop. 



The seed crop, while growing, is to be kept clear of 

 weeds, like other hoed crops. 



We will next speak of the crop that is to be raised from 

 the seed-potatoes. 



The ground is to be mellowed with the plough and the 

 harrow, in the Spring; and then the seed^potatoes are to be 

 cut in two or three pieces each, and laid along on the sur- 

 face, at the distance of about ten inches from each other, in 

 strait rows or drills, which may be about three feet apart ; 

 and then a furrow is to be thrown over them from each 

 side, which completes the operation of planting. 



Whatever manure is to be applied to the crop, is first to 

 be laid along where the drills of potatoes are to be laid. 

 Fresh barn-dung will be found as suitable for this crop, as 

 for the common sort of potatoes. The crop, while grow- 

 ing, is to be kept clear of weeds, with the plough and 

 hoe. 



