116 ON ROOT CROPS. 



crop, and my mode of planting, I will offer the same, with 

 a few remarks fomided on my own experience and observation. 

 I planted three bushels of Chenangoes about the first of May, 

 on good land, had thirty-one bushels, very few rotten ; they 

 did better than I have had that kind do for many years. 



I planted three bushels of two kinds of seedlings, that I 

 have. They were planted in three fields; had fifty-four bush- 

 els ; found a few rotten in low land. I consider they did well 

 for these kinds. I also planted twenty-eight bushels of my 

 red seedlings on about four and one half acres of land ; had 

 eight hundred and eighty bushels, yielding a bushel to every 

 sixteen hills, and a fraction over thirty-one bushels from one 

 bushel of seed. They were planted in four different fields, 

 varying from the fourth of May, to the twenty-eighth of May, 

 one field was the highest land I cultivate, and one small piece 

 was as low as any. The seed and crop were measured. 1 give 

 the land according to my judgement. They are old fields, 

 that I have cultivated many times. I planted one piece of 

 new sward land, which I consider rather preferable for pota- 

 toes, less than one acre, with six and one half bushels 

 of seed, and had two hundred and eight bushels, two hundred 

 of which were of merchantable size, and all were sound. I 

 never raised any potatoes, that would yield so well, under every 

 circumstance, as these. Planted early or late, on high land or 

 low, good or shallow, whether the season be hot and dry, or 

 wet and cold, they have always done well, except under trees. 



I plough all my land in the spring, as I think land cannot be 

 too light for this crop. I harrow all my ground with a heavy 

 iron tooth harrow, only a day or two before I furrow ; I fur- 

 row both ways, at a distance that a plough can pass each way, 

 and that it does pass. I think many people err by having too 

 many hills, as well as too much seed in the hill. I common- 

 ly plough about six inches deep, low land less ; I put all my 

 manure in the hill, one shovel full to the hill. I prefer at least 

 one half such as has been made in my barn yard during sum- 

 mer. T cart it out in the fall in heaps, according to the field 

 where it is to be used, and level the loads to make the heap 

 flat. I like to cart out my winter manure as early in the 



