Ike Cultivation of Potatoes. aat 



other sorts, apparently at random, but are regularly disposed in a spiral direction. 

 It does not ripen quite so early as migiit be wished, but in other respects it has not 

 at present its superior. 



III. The Soit proper for Potatoes, and its Preparation. 



Though potatoes will grow on any soil, they ought not to be cultivated on that 

 which is cold, stiff, or wet. The best soil is a rich sand or a light loam. Very good 

 crops, however, may be obtained even from poor soils, if dry and warm, and if well 

 manured, and kept free from weeds, no crops making more ample returns for ma- 

 nure and good husbandry than potatoes. 



It will be adviseable to give land intended for potatoes a ridge ploughing before 

 winter, provided it be not a light sand. In the month of February it should be 

 again ploughed and harrowed down, and in that state should remain till the middle 

 or latter end of March, by which time the seed weeds will begin to vegetate. A 

 slight sprinkling of well-digested dung should be equally spread over the field and 

 ploughed in. But, perhaps, the best preparation for potatoes is a crop of turnips 

 consumed on the ground : in that case nothing more is required than to give a 

 single ploughing followed by a liberal use of the barrows. 



IV. Manuring, 



It is a prevailing custom to manure for potatoes with long litter, old thatch, and 

 even stubble, heath, or any other substance, in short, which will keep the ground, 

 hollow, under the idea that the young tubers of the potatoes have by such means 

 more room to spread and expand themselves. 



Where the soil is a stiff untractable clay, it must be confessed that such manures 

 are highly expedient ; but on such soils potatoes ought not to be admitted, as both 

 in quantity and quality they will always be inferior to such as are raised on a dif- 

 ferent soil. 



The manures most proper for potatoes, when cultivated on land which suits them, 

 are those which will mix and unite most readily with the soil. I know of no ma- 

 nures, I mean these of an animal or vegetable nature, nor, I might add, of the 

 mineral kingdom, provided they are suitable to the soil, which come amiss to the, 

 potatoe. 



The most advantageous way of applying manure to the potatoe crop is, to give 

 part at the time of planting, and the remainder as a top dressing immediately before 



