SECT. XV. OF ESCULENTS. 251 



divided into beds of two or three rows each, with sunk 

 alleys between ; and as in such a soil the sets should 

 not be above three inches deep, the sinking of the 

 alleys may be made by earthing the rows up from 

 time to time. In a heavy soil make the rows rather 

 wider than in a light one, that there be a due quantity 

 of surface mould for earthing. 



Early potatoes are procured several ways. On a 

 hot-bed, some may be planted towards the end of 

 February, or under hand-glasses^ in a warm border, 

 or even without. There are early sorts on purpose 

 for this culture, called mules, as they do not bear seed. 

 These potatoes being small, may be planted whole, 

 or rather cut in halves, paring off the eyes at the 

 crown where they are thick, as it never answers to 

 have many shoots come from a set; whole ones 

 should be planted a foot asunder, and halves at eight 

 inches. 



Look over the stock of early potatoes, and plant 

 those first carefully in trenches that have rooted 

 shoots, for they will produce the first fruit, especi- 

 ally if short and brushy. Do not expose them so 

 long to the air as to get withered. When up in hot' 

 beds, or under hand-glasses, let them have plenty of 

 air ; and in open ground be protected from frost by 

 timely earthing up, and occasional covering with 

 peas haulm, or straw, which must not be kept on, 

 but upon necessity. 4-S these early potatoes are on 

 a warm border, a little water in a dry time will for- 

 ward them, and increase their size. In default of 

 the true early potatoe, sets having short and strong 

 shoots of any other sort may be treated as above ; 

 but they will not be so good, though larger. 



From Mid-March to Mid- April is the properest 

 time, (earlier or later as the soil is dry or moist) 

 to plant for the principal crop, though May, or even, 

 June, generally produce a fair increase. The root$ 



