GARDEN OR VEGETABLE SEEDS. 53 



mold is perhaps the best fertilizer to be found for pota- 

 toes ; apply freely in the hill or drill ; lay off rows three 

 feet apart with a wide shovel plow, and eight to ten inches 

 deep, in which drop the potato cuttings fifteen to eighteen 

 inches apart, turn them cut part down, cover four to five 

 inches deep. Cut the potatoes into four to eight pieces, 

 according to size. A piece containing one or two buds or 

 eyes does as well or better than to plant the whole potato. 

 In the Southern States plantings may be made in July or 

 August for a fall crop. Cultivate until signs of bloom- 



IRISH POTATO. 



ing appear, then hill up and lay by. The potato likes 

 a cool moist bed to grow in hence mulching with leaves 

 or straw is very desirable, when convenient to obtain 

 cheaply, and obviates the necessity of cultivating. Avoid 

 low damp soils. I have raised enormous crops by open- 

 ing trenches in rich garden soil, eight inches deep, drop- 

 ping potatoes and covering with half rotted straw from 

 oats, wheat or rye ; raise the straw several inches above 

 the level so as to turn the water from the trenches. 



