250 THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



ency) generally adopted. Placing the potatoes 

 nearly upon a level with the surface of any spot of 

 ground in a heap, and covering them with plenty 

 of straw, then with turves, and lastly with earth, is 

 also a simple and good method, especially if in very 

 severe weather some dry raulchy stuff be thrown 

 over the whole. Always be careful that the po- 

 tatoes are in a dry state before being stored away, 

 as in that lies the principal art of keeping them* 



In whatever place potatoes are laid they should 

 be frequently looked over and kept loosened up so 

 as to prevent them as much as possible from vege- 

 tating, which, if it goes to any extent, will deprive 

 them of much of their farinaceous quality. None 

 suffers more from this than the ash-leaved kidney, 

 on which account it should not be stored much 

 before Christmas, and should again be taken out at 

 the end of February. If wanted for early planting, 

 and the eyes are backward in growth, the method 

 of forwarding them has been noticed. 



In preparing the sets for planting, one strong 

 eye is sufficient for any sort of potato, whether 

 planted early or late ; and in cutting, neither of the 

 ends should be planted, these being more fit for the 

 pigs, and, as before hinted, they are to be laid to 

 dry for a few days previous to planting; and in 

 planting, keep the eye uppermost, and the stronger 

 the eye has sprouted so much better will be the crop. 



Potatoes of the middle size should be chosen for 

 the sets ; and it is held to be a good method to 

 sort the potatoes before cutting them, as the smaller 

 ones, if wanted, may be planted closer together. 



Fresh stable dung should on no account be used 



