OF AGRICULTURE. 137 



If weeds still prove troublesome, they may be 

 removed by shallow hoeing, or by hand. Deep 

 covering at time of planting, or heavy earthing in 

 future culture, are injurious to the crop, especially in 

 heavy clay soils, or in damp localities. 



The flower-buds of the potato should be plucked 

 off as soon as they make their appearance. The 

 nutrition, expended in the production of seeds, is 

 almost identical in kind, with that which promotes 

 the growth of the potato. Hence, if seeds are 

 produced, it must be at the expense of food, which 

 would otherwise nourish the tubers. 



D I G G I N O . 



As soon as the tops of the potato die, it indicates 

 full maturity of the tubers, and the crop should then 

 be gathered. For if the weather is warm and moist, 

 there is danger of second growth, which makes the 

 potato watery. After being dug, they should be 

 dried in the open air, and laid away in the earth ; a 

 dry, elevated spot should be selected for this purpose, 

 and so prepared that the water cannot collect in the 

 bottom of the bed. They should not be buried until 

 near the beginning of winter, as there will then bo 

 little danger of heating, and consequent rotting, 

 under the influence of warm weather. 



Before the weather becomes warm enough in the 

 spring for the sprouting of the tubers to commence, 

 they should be taken up, and returned to the cool, 

 dry cellar. If they are damp when taken from the 

 ground, they should be spread out in the sunshine for 

 a few hours. They may be kept in good condition 

 for eating much longer, by being spread on a dry 



