WAY-SIDE HINTS 



ing offers better pabulum for potatoes, or in- 

 deed almost any crop, than decaying turf. In 

 April the raw surface is levelled with a light 

 Scotch harrow, and thereupon all is turned 

 under seven inches by the best plow at com- 

 mand with three horses abreast; (two will 

 weary of the work). After this the harrow 

 is put on again, up and down, and across. 

 There is no fear of harrowing too much. This 

 being accomplished, and the manure disposed 

 (since March) in huge heaps at either end of 

 the field, three deep furrows are opened at, 

 say, two or three rods apart, by a plowman 

 who can drive his furrow across as straight as 

 the flight of an arrow. Immediately upon the 

 opening of the first, the cart follows and two 

 men strew the open furrow with the half- 

 rotted manure. Another hand follows with a 

 sprinkling of guano and plaster : and still an- 

 other follows to drop the seed. Upon this the 

 plowman laps a furrow in way of cover : two 

 furrows follow as in ordinary plowing, and 

 every fourth one is treated as we have 

 described with ample dressing and seed. Three 

 series of furrows being opened at the start, per- 

 mit the plowman to go his rounds without in- 

 terfering with the planting and dressing. 

 When the whole field is gone over after this 



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