MARCH.] "POTATOES DIBBLED. 13() 



is favourable, they may be sown the last week in 

 lYbruary, >llb. of seed per acre, and harrowed in. 

 Both these roots have been tried by drilling, by very 

 skilful drillers, but they have not answered like 

 broad-cast crops. Nothing prepares better for 

 corn, if due attention be paid to keeping them en- 

 tirely clean. 



POTATOES DIBBLED. 



The land I suppose to have received its first til- 

 lage in autumn ; and, if it was inclinable to be 

 rough, to have had a second ploughing in February. 

 The first dry season in this month,, it should be 

 stirred again flat, turning in the manure, of what- 

 ever kind it might be. The best is farm-yard 

 dung; and the more the better, unless the 

 soil be very rich. Upon an average of lands, less 

 should not be laid than twenty-five or thirty large 

 loads per acre, which should be spread equally, that 

 it may plough in well. As soon as the surface is 

 harrowed smooth, the planting should be begun, 

 which is performed in this manner : A man holds 

 in his hand a dibble, which has one point, and a 

 place for him to set his foot on it, to strike it into 

 the earth, in order to make a hole to receive the set. 

 A woman, or boy, follows him with the sets, and 

 drops one into each hole. After this, the land is har- 

 rowed twice or thrice, and the business is clone. 

 They are in this method set promiscuously, at from 

 nine inches to one foot asunder. The work is 

 dorie quickly, and is not very expensive. In this 



promis- 



