POTATOES* 111 



growth — ripening in three or four months, and being al- 

 lowed by all to be the best substitQie for bread, (though 

 it is not riianj years that it has been in so general esti- 

 mation,) has now attained its true point ol" estimation and 

 usefulness in ikrming ; being applied to numerous and 

 important purposes. 



There is almost an endless variet}'- of potatoes. Val- 

 uable kinds are every year disappearing, and new sorts 

 coming into notice. It wonid be easy lo name manj^ sorts, 

 but quite useless. The best way to obtain new varieties, 

 is from the seeds of the apples. Gather the ripe apples, 

 wash thtm in water to clear them from the pulp ; then 

 dry the seeds, and nest spring sow them in a bed which 

 is to be kept clear from weeds In the fall the small 

 potatoes produced by those, can be ai>orted and planted 

 the <oJ lowing spring, when they wi-l produce potatoes of 

 the usual size, and the varieties can be ascertained. 



Potatoes will grow in almost any soil if suitably ma 

 nured ; but best in one that is light, cool and good, es- 

 pecially a fresh oiic. 



Wet land produces too much top, and a watery fruity 

 unpleasant to the taste. Very dry land produces a small 

 and nurly crop. Land that is apt to bake or shaded by 

 trees should also be avoided. 



The preparation of the ground for potatoes should be 

 similar to that for Indian corn. It should be deep, be- 

 cause roots will commonly grow as low as the soil is stir- 

 red, and no deeper ; and all land that is not green 

 sward, ought to be well pulverized before planting. The 

 quantity oi manure necessary for a potatoe.crop, must 

 diflfer according to the nature of the soil and other cir- 

 cumstances. Twenty loads ot barn-dung spread over an 

 acre ot land, may generally be considered a suitable 

 quantity. If a sufficient quantity cannot be furnished to 

 cover the whole surf>;ce, apply it to the drills, or hills 

 oniy. Coarse crude manures, such as fresh barn-dung, 

 moss, peat, U\ri\ in short, any manure, that serves to 

 keep the ground loose and meilow, will answer for this 

 plant. If land is moist, manure should be of a light or 

 strawy kind; if dry-, liner and moister. 



No field culture admits of greater variety than thfi 

 potaioe ; some farmers select the largest for seed, and 

 plant one in a hiii ; others select the smallest, and 'plant 



