THE RURAL SOCRATES. si 



Ic/lroy the labors of the hufbandman, can injure the 

 growth of potatoes. — In promoting their culture we find 

 a new refource againft national alarms, and a well- 

 grounded hope that better rural economy, may, by de- 

 grees, releafe us from that dependence on our neighbors, 

 the unavoidable confequence of our prefent fituation. — 

 Let the culture of potatoes once become general, the 

 induflrious peafant will procure, from a very imall piece 

 of ground, a comfortable fubfiftence for his family ; 

 nor will he be liable to diraj:>pointment even in the n7oit 

 unfriendly years. He will cultivate, within a trifle, the 

 fame t^uantiiy of arable land, and will be able to carry 

 to market the pf ofits of his harvcfl almoin entire ; whilfl, 

 before this dilcovery, he expended a very confiderable 

 part in his houfhcld. This advantage is fo manifcfl/ 

 that the culture of potatoes is already common in many 

 diftriills of Switzerland, particularly in thofe whole vi- 

 cinity to the Alps expofes them mofl to the inclemency 

 of winter. — I apprehend it will not be thought an ufe- 

 I'efs procefs, if wc enter into a circumflantial detail of 

 Xliyogg's huibandry in this cfTential branch. 



When be has fele<aed a proper fpot of giound, it is 

 prepared in autumn by ploughing, after firfl ipreading 

 over it fome tumbrels of marley gravel ; efpccially if 

 the foil is fubje^l to weeds, Towards the following 

 fpring, he hys ten loads of manure on an acre, and 

 ploughs a fecond time. — He then fets the potatoes in the 

 turrows, two or three together, leaving a foot's fpacc 

 betwixt. The very large ones may be cut in pieces. — • 

 His allowance is ten bulhels an acre. — Thus planted, the 

 ileld is covered again with manure, and left in that flats 

 fifteen days ;* when it is ban owed over. — A dry feafoor 

 is judged beA for planting, as it is more likely to kill the 

 weeds which are diflodged ; for the luccefs of potatoes 

 chiefly depends on the afllduity of the hufbandman itx- 



cleaning 



* TIftj operation is prcbaUrf deigned to prevent i)b« C.anltjg i^jf 



