251? THE VEGETABLE CULTIVATOR. 



properly applied, as much of it consists in hard 

 work. 



It is as follows : beds are marked out from three 

 to five feet wide, according to the nature of the 

 soil, with from two to three feet alleys. The earth 

 of the bed is then thrown out to the depth of four 

 and five inches, and laid on each side : the bottom 

 is stirred up, and the potatoes set from six to eight 

 inches apart entirely over the surface of the bed, 

 and what little manure they can get is sprinkled 

 over them. They are afterwards covered about two 

 inches deep with the earth thrown out in the alleys, 

 and must afterwards have one or two more cover- 

 ings (the earth being well broken with the spade) 

 should they seem to want it. Where there is plenty 

 of manure to be had for covering the sets, this mode 

 of culture has produced most abundant crops. 



In many parts of England potatoes are stored in 

 the same field in which they were planted, in mo- 

 derate heaps or long ridges, covered with straw and 

 earth sufficient to keep out the frost, by which 

 means they keep well, but it is not convenient for 

 turning them over, &c. 



The curl in the potato. This is the distemper to 

 which the plant is most liable. It shows itself very 

 early in the season, by a curling in the leaves, . and 

 too frequently affects the crop to an alarming de- 

 gree. The cause of this disease is not yet perfectly 

 understood ; and there are various reasons assigned 

 for it. By some persons unripe tubers are sup- 

 posed to be the cause, by others a worm in the root, 

 injudicious storing, and letting the roots remain 

 too long before they are turned over, which per- 



