276 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



be substituted with advantage ; no doubt, under the beneficent 

 guidance of the Irish Board of Agriculture this change will 

 soon take place. It is difficult to understand why the system 

 should be given such an objectionable title, except that it is 

 frequently associated with slovenly farming; at all events, 

 there is nothing " lazy " about it when properly carried out. 



Early Potatoes in* the Garden. Particulars of the field 

 culture of early Potatoes have already been given,. but smaller 

 lots of extra early tubers may be produced in the garden 

 in various ways, none of which present much difficulty. The 

 first essential thing is to secure some good sound seed of an 

 early variety, and pack them closely in trays, one layer deep, 

 as described on' pages 269 to 271. This should be done as soon 

 after the beginning of January as possible, and the trays stood 

 in full daylight in a cool place, but quite safe from frost. .Here 

 by the time they are wanted each will make a number of short 

 stout shoots, all of which except two of the strongest should be 

 rubbed off before planting. Next, select a piece of ground in 

 a sheltered position, which lies dry and is inclined to the south 

 or south-west, and fork this up lightly, having previously spread 

 over it thoroughly decayed manure, about 2in. thick. Then 

 prepare a heap of compost, using about one-half decayed 

 manure and making up the other half with the residue from 

 rubbish fires, decayed vegetable rubbish, road sweepings, or 

 any similar lightening material. About the middle of February 

 draw the ground up into ridges about Sin. high and 20in. apart ; 

 this will cause the soil to lie drier and warmer than when lying 

 flat. In the first week of March make a drill, 4in. deep, at the 

 top of each ridge, and lay 2in. of compost at the bottom of each. 

 Lay the sprouted sets on this, lOin. apart, cover them with 2in. 

 more compost, and then make the ridges trim and neat by 

 drawing soil from the sides over the compost and forking over 

 the ground again between the rows. As the tops begin to 

 show draw a little fine earth over them ; when frost threatens 

 lay along the ridges a few inches of dry litter, which must 

 be removed each morning. Or a light framework of laths can 

 be fixed 1ft. above the top of the ridges on which mats can be 

 laid. The Potatoes should be ready for lifting by the middle 

 of June. This arrangement can be modified, and considerable 



