290 OF CROPS USUALLY CULTIVATED. 



1. The excellent mode in which they are raised; 2. The 

 demand for them at market ; 3. Their proving so valuable 

 a preparation for crops of wheat; and, 4. The custom 

 adopted by farmers, of giving portions of land for raising 

 potatoes, both to their own servants, and to the inhabitants 

 of any neighbouring town or village. 



1. Nothing can be superior to the mode of raising pota- 

 toes by the plough, and in drills. The following account 

 of that process, though peculiarly applicable to the neigh- 

 bourhood of Glasgow, does not vary materially, from the 

 practice usually adopted in other parts of the kingdom. 



The ground is prepared for a potatoe crop by ploughing 

 in winter, or rather in autumn ; and to keep it dry, during 

 winter, the ridges are gathered, and the furrows kept clear. 

 It is sometimes ploughed once, and sometimes twice, and 

 well harrowed during the spring, and the drills being form- 

 ed, the dung and cuttings are put in, and covered with the 

 plough. In sandy ground the cuttings are put below, and 

 in heavy soil above the dung. The potatoes are dressed 

 in summer in the ordinary way, the drills being pared or 

 sliced, horse-hoed, hand-hoed, weeded, &c. as in other 

 parts of the country. 



In regard to the produce and value, that must vary ac- 

 cording to the condition of the ground, the time and man- 

 ner of culture and cropping, the season, and other relative 

 circumstances. A potatoe crop will average from 4-0 to 50 

 bolls per acre. They will sometimes fall short of 40, but 

 many have reaped more than 60 bolls from one acre. Ge- 

 neral Spence sold last year a potatoe crop, for part of which 

 he was paid L.29 per acre, and potatoes were raised from 

 part of the field, at the rate of SO bolls per acre. Andrew 

 Moodie, Esq. reaped, for a first crop, upon deep moss, 

 near Paisley, from 17 3 acres, near one acre of which was 

 occupied with roads, ditches, &c. 774. bolls of potatoes, 



