24-8 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



best softs for that purpose are the ash-leaved kidney 

 and the Brighton dwarf or frame. 



Two methods of planting in the open ground 

 have been practised with success, both in the south 

 and north of England, but more particularly in 

 Lancashire, where fine potatoes (raised according 

 to the following method) have been on sale in the 

 Manchester market by the 12th or 15th of May, and 

 in some years as high as three shillings a pound. 



For this purpose full-sized sets should be planted 

 the first week in October, either on a south border 

 or in any sheltered situation, (the more dry the bet- 

 ter,) on which, after having been well dug up, the 

 potatoes should be planted eight or nine inches deep, 

 and about ten or twelve inches asunder, covering 

 them up, and leaving the border as light as possible ; 

 and as a good covering of dry mulchy litter will 

 be required, a crop of radishes may be sown, which 

 will be cleared off in March, as by that time the 

 plants will be showing themselves above ground ; 

 and if the weather should happen to be severe, a 

 covering will be requisite. When the plants are 

 I airly up, the hoe should be applied, which, in the 

 course of a fortnight or three weeks, will want a 

 repetition. They need not be earthed up unless 

 very much exposed to the wind, when a little may 

 be drawn about the plants to keep them steady. 

 By this method the author has known potatoes 

 gathered, and that not in the most favourable situa- 

 tions, before the above time. 



The second method is from single eyes ; and to 

 forward their sprouting they should, early in the year, 

 be laid upon dry straw in a warm loft or room, and 



