ROOT CROPS. 129 



over into Scotland about 1725, but met with strong opposition 

 from the various religious factions, because not mentioned in 

 the Bible. The people of France were alao opposed to their 

 introduction, and looked upon them with great aversion. The 

 nobility unsuccessfully attempted to make them popular. At 

 last notices were posted around a field planted with them, near 

 Paris, that whoever stole any should be severely punished. 

 The planters had the right view of human nature, for very 

 soon they were all stolen and carried away by the common 

 people. Henceforth they were popular. The most important 

 constituents of the potato are starch and albumen. The 

 amount of starch increases as the season advances. The 

 potato is especially adapted to be eaten with meat, which 

 contains much nitrogen, as it supplies the elements wanting 

 in that food. 



It is useless to attempt to lay down any arbitrary rule for 

 the culture of the potato. Farmers are placed under such 

 different circumstances that different practices must prevail in 

 different localities. 



The best potato land is said to be a sandy loam, recently 

 burned over. We have but little such land with us, and 

 perhaps the next best is a light, loamy sward ; say a mellow 

 piece of old pasture, moist, but not too damp^ and fertile 

 enough to yield two hundred bushels to the acre with the 

 aid of some alkaline fertilizer in the hill, than which there is 

 none better than decomposed or composted rock-weed and 

 kelp, which abound upon our shores. 



The potato will not bear strong manure in the hill without 

 bad results. Oftentimes strong manure may be used to 

 promote a quick, early growth, but for late potatoes the seed 

 should not be in immediate contact with strong manure. 

 It is the opinion of most writers that manure should be sown 

 broadcast on the furrows and harrowed in. This thoroughly 

 mixes it with the surface, aud the after-cultivation fully pre- 

 pares it for plant- food. 



Potatoes are of better quality on light, mellow land than 

 on a heavy, damp soil. 



Potato land should be carefully ploughed and thoroughly 

 harrowed. If planted in drills they should be made about 

 three feet apart aud the seed dropped at intervals of one foot, 

 17* 



