4G 



Horm, Early Kidneij^ Cflienangos, and Early IliU^ ar'e 

 some of the earliest. The White Jaclcson and the 

 Black are the most popular late sorts in this region. 



This root is the product of almost every soil, al- 

 though a dry, rich one is best suited to them. A sod 

 turned over in the preceding autumn, so as to become 

 well-rotted in the spring after the grass has well star- 

 ted, is perhaps the best suited to give a fair yield, and 

 at the same time a fine, healthy, well-matured return. 

 They may be planted in hills or drills, according to 

 the judgment of the cultivator. Whole potatoes of 

 a medium size are better for planting than small, or 

 large cut ones. They should be well hilled up in hoe- 

 ing. The hills may be three and a half feet apart; 

 or, if in drills, they may be three and a half feet a- 

 sunder^ and the potatoes placed about ten inches- 

 apart. 



"Irish mode of boiling. — Wash the potatoes clean, but do ne% 

 pare them; then put them into hot water, and boil them until a 

 fork can be readily inserted Dash in a pint of cold water, and! 

 in two minutes afterward, pour off the whole. Now;set the pot, 

 with the lid half drawn, either over the fire, or near it, for the 

 steam to evaporate; when the potatoes may be peeled, and car- 

 ried to the table in an uncovered dish. If they be of a good kmd 

 ihia mode of cooking will render thern sweet, dry and mealy, very 

 different from the water-soaked lumps too often seen. 



To roast. — Select potatoes of a nearly equal size, that they 

 may all occupy about the same length of time in cooking. After 

 thfey are washed clean, put them in a tin pan, and bake in a stove 

 or oven. Send them to the table unskinned.'' 



"Potato, (Sweet.) Convolvulus batatas — The best soil tor the 

 sweet potato plant is light, dry, of rather a sandy character, and 

 in a warm situation. It should be prepared for planting, by be- 

 ing deeply dug or ploughed, and enriched by a liberal application 

 of manure. All the large clods ought to be pulverized. The 

 ground can then be laid into beds three feet wide, with a very 

 shallow drill through the middle of each, or marked out in hills, 

 three feet apart each way. 



Where the season is of sufficient length, the seed potatoes may 

 be planted immediately in the beds prepared for their reception; 

 but, in northern climates, artificial heat is necessary to procure 

 early plants. In the latter case, the roots are to be split and 

 placed about three or four inches deep in the soil of a hot-bed, 

 sometime during the latter part of spring. This bed is composed 



