46 IRISH POTATOES. 



ON THE 



CULTIVATION OF IRISH POTATOES. 



I now intend to draw the reader's attention to my 

 plan for cultivating Irish potatoes. In the first place, 

 it is necessary to show the difference in the growth of 

 the Irish and sweet potato. The former grows up- 

 ward from the side, the latter downwards; therefore, 

 it is necessary to plant your Irish potatoes as deep as 

 you can ; say from twelve to fifteen inches. This 

 crop is for your Fall and Winter potatoes. 



When you prepare your land, plough your furrows 

 two or three times in the same place, so as to make 

 the furrow as deep as you can; say from fifteen to 

 eighteen inches. Then drop your potatoes in the bot- 

 tom of the furrow. If they are cut, they should be 

 split lengthways ; then put about six inches of stable 

 manure on the potatoes, after which cover the whole 

 with five or six inches of rich mould. 



So soon as your potatoes come up, work the dirt to 

 the hill ; and by so doing, you will cover up the grass, 

 which will destroy it. By this process, the soil will 

 always remain light round the potatoes, and they will 

 always be well covered. The cooler they are kept 

 the better, while growing. Kept reasonably cool, 

 they grow larger, dryer, and the skin is remarkably 

 thin. Potatoes raised in this manner, are so mealy 

 that they fall to pieces when boiled. 



