AND RURAL ECONOMIST. 275 



as to fall over, become entangled, and thus to lose the ma- 

 turing influence of light. Hence, such haulm seldom ripens 

 in due time ; it remains green even in December ; and the 

 tubers, though large, numerous, and heavy, are immature, 

 void of mealiness, and vapid in flavor. 



A fact of great importance to the growers of potatoes re- 

 mains to be noticed. The outside rows, and all single rotes, 

 will be found to produce far greater crops than any of the 

 interior rows of a plot in the garden or field. This depends 

 upon a variety of causes, the chief of which is, the more 



fjerfect exposure <flP the foliage to the agency of air and 

 ight. Mr. Knight assures me, that he obtained from one 

 outside row of an early seedling variety of the preceding 

 year, which was two feet six inches exterior of an adjoining 

 row, ' a produce equivalent to more than fifty-eight tons per 

 acre. No conclusions,' he adds, ' can be drawn from the 

 amount of produce of an external row. I mention it only 

 to show the enormous influence of light.'' 



In this philosophical remark I cordially acquiesce, because 

 experience has established its truth to my own satisfaction. 

 I therefore earnestly recommend every cultivator, who has 

 the opportunity of cropping upon long detached slips, in airy, 

 open situations, to make the experiment of close planting in 

 single rows, either whole potatoes or well-cut sets from very 

 large potatoes, each to contain two eyes at the least. These 

 sets should be taken from the crown end, or middle of the 

 tuber, and not from tiie lower or root end ; as I have found 

 the latter to be comparatively unproductive. Sets may be 

 planted at still, less distances in the rows than whole tubers; 

 and although the preference ought, in all cases, to be given 

 to a southern direction, where such can be conveniently 

 given, still, for absolutely single lows, it is not indispensably 

 required, because air and light will act on each side of the 

 stem and foliage, and there will be no intervening shadow. 



The soil ought to be sandy and light, though moderately 

 rich ; that is, if fine mealy and dry potatoes be required. It 

 should not by any means be glutted with manure, and need 

 not be deep. I have found no particular advantage in 

 trenching for this crop ; in fact, I am credibly informed by 

 an observant gentleman, who has travelled extensively, that 

 in North America, the finest potatoes are produced in extra- 

 ordinary quantities upon grass meadows, by simply turning 

 up the turf by placing the grass surface downward upon 

 them. 



