32 A MANUAL OF 



crop of plants, or sets ; consequently, if they 

 are to be sprouted in manure-beds, calculations 

 must be made to get the bed in good working 

 order, and ready to bed the tubers by the mid- 

 dle of April. This will bring the first crop of 

 plants by the middle of May and the second 

 crop by the first of June. The first crop can 

 then be pulled off and transplanted in another 

 bed, where they will continue to grow so as 

 to be stout and well rooted by first of June. 

 There is little if Anything to be gained in set- 

 ting them out in the field before that time, as 

 the soil must be warm for them to grow. The 

 forcing-bed is made of a layer of about three 

 inches of a light, sandy loam, which is improved 

 by mixing with it a quantity of light leaf- 

 mould. On this the potatoes are laid thickly 

 in rows side by side. Those over one inch in 

 diameter are cut in two lengthwise, and laid 

 with cut side up. The bedding must be done 

 during a warm sunny afternoon, for, as we have 

 said, they are easily chilled, and more easily 

 injured than would be supposed. They are 

 covered with one and a half or two inches of 

 the same material which underlies them. If 

 this soil can be mixed with coal-dust, dry black 

 muck, or even buckwheat hulls, it will help to 



