IRISH POTATOES. 47 



In cultivating early potatoes, I should plant the first 

 of December; and would prepare my ground in the 

 following manner: I would take a piece of land that 

 was in clover, and plough one Jurrow; then drop or 

 plant my potatoes in that furrow. I would then collect 

 some coarse stable manure and cover the potatoes 

 about three inches thick, then turn the next clover sod 

 on the potatoes, and then go on to flush the clover un- 

 til time for another row ; say about three feet six inch- 

 es. The next row should be planted in the same 

 manner. The potatoes should be dropped about three 

 inches apart. As before observed, split your pota- 

 toes lengthways, and make four quarters. 



When you have planted your crop, take your roller 

 and roll the ground as hard as you can; after which, 

 take your cart and haul a quantity of old hay or straw, 

 from your barn yard, or leaves from the woods, and 

 cover your potato patch all over, about six or eight 

 inches thick. In the next place you should haul some 

 kind of brush, which will serve to prevent the wind 

 from blowing away the hay or leaves. In doing this, 

 you not only enhance the value of your land, but your 

 potatoes will be protected from the frosts of Winter ; 

 and you will have new potatoes on your table from 

 one month to six weeks sooner than your neighbor, 

 who plants his in the Spring. So soon as the genial 

 breeze of Spring returns, and the hard freezing of 

 Winter is over, you should have the leaves taken 

 from over the potatoes and carried to your cow- 



