ROOT CULTURE 75 



ing first spread the manure, if to be had at the time ; 

 but if the ley is one of clover, of one or two years 

 old, the ploughing may be postponed till spring. If 

 ploughed in September without manure, this may 

 be spread upon the ground just before planting, and 

 buried with a light furrow, so as not to turn up the 

 vegetable matter of the sod. In our practice of al- 

 ways sowing clover with small grains, we seldom 

 fail of having a tolerable grass ley for the corn and 

 potatoes which are to follow; and its value to the 

 crop doubly compensates for the cost of the clover- 

 seed. The potato has a system of roots, which 

 strike deep if the soil will permit, to collect food 

 for the plant. A decomposing sod, with the manure 

 which should accompany it, turned with a deep fur- 

 row, affords the best aliment for the plant, and is de- 

 posited where the roots naturally seek it, and where 

 it remains cool and moist. The stolens have a dif- 

 ferent office to perform. They require more air and 

 heat, shoot horizontally, and, if buried deep in culture 

 by the plough, will produce a new set near the sur- 

 face. So that a rich, deep soil, having a good sod 

 and a mellow surface, is best adapted to this plant. 

 Harrow thoroughly before planting. 



Manures. The value of manures to the potato 

 crop can scarcely be overrated ; and, indeed, a large 

 crop is seldom obtained without this auxiliary. Long 

 or unfermented manure is preferable to that which 

 is rotten. And remember, this manure does not be- 

 come more impaired in value for the crop which is to 

 follow the potato than if it were summer-yarded. 

 We prefer applying it broadcast, with an unsparing 

 hand, previous to the last ploughing; and we ap- 

 prove of Mr. French's practice, of sowing plaster 

 upon the manure instead of afterward applying it to 

 the growing plants. 



Seed. A thousand and one experiments have been 

 made, and with various results, to determine the rel- 

 ative value of large, medium, or small seed of cul 



