226 The Rev. E. Cartwright's Essay on 



Potatoes may also be propagated from cuttings of the haulm, which very freely 

 take root, especially if the season be favourable. 



When thus, propagated, the same room should be allowed as in any other way 

 of raising them ; for though they are not quite so prolific (at least I do not find 

 them so) as transplanted plants, yet their tops are equally as luxuriant. 



My experiments on transplanting were tried on a piece of ground which had 

 produced a crop of winter tares. As soon as the potatoes were ofl^, it was sown 

 with winter tares as before ; and as soon as the tares are mown in the ensuing 

 summer, it is my intention to fill it with transplanted potatoe plants again. 



This practice, besides suggesting hints to the facjner, may furnish valuable in- 

 formation to the small cottager. It will teach him, that after his litde garden has 

 produced him a crop of spring and early summer vegetables, he may obtain from 

 it, by being provided with a nursery bed of potatoe plants, a valuable stock of 

 food for his winter consumption. 



VII. Taking tip afid Storing. 



In taking up potatoes, the first thing to be attended to is to clear the ground of 

 the haulm, and then to gather such potatoes as appear on the surface. These, 

 though of inferior quality to the rest for culinary purposes, are as good as the best 

 for sets. 



Potatoes are taken up either with the spade or fork, or else with the plough. 

 The one mode is more expeditious, though in some respects more wasteful. 



When taken up by the plough, supposing they are planted in single rows, a 

 common swing plough is the best implement, which, when applied to this purpose, 

 should work without a coulter. When the potatoes are planted in double rows, 

 as is recommended in this paper, the proper instrument is the double mould-board 

 plough, drawn by two horses, the horses going abreast with the ridge between 

 them, which the double mould-board plough undermines. In performing this 

 work it should commence by undermining only every other ridge. The produce 

 of these being cleared away, the remaining ridges are then to be proceeded upon 

 in the same manner. 



The persons employed to gather the crop should be supplied with two, if not 

 three baskets, for the purpose of separating those of prime and middling quality 

 from the refuse. 



