42 THE POTATO CROP. 



in farming pursuits, by giving them a solution of many 

 apparently mysterious circumstances connected with their 

 daily avocations. Now, to an observant man, this identi- 

 fied difference may be made serviceable in this way : with 

 one tuber he has the means of raising three distinct plants 

 from the "rose end," from the " centre," and from the 

 " heel sets" each of which will come to maturity at a dif- 

 ferent period, the produce of the "set" from the "rose end" 

 coming forward first, that of the centre being the next, 

 while the "set" cut from the "heel end" will require 

 some two or three weeks longer before it is ready for har- 

 vesting. In cutting the "sets," for planting in districts 

 where it is important that the crop should come to matu- 

 rity at a given time, this lower portion should be sepa- 

 rated from the others, and thrown aside for feeding pur- 

 poses, only the upper and centre portions being retained for 

 use as seed. 



The operation of planting, depositing the tubers or sets 

 in the ground, is usually performed by the hand, immedi- 

 ately following the distribution of manure in the furrows 

 of the first ridging, the sets being placed on the manure, 

 and the moulding ploughs following up, splitting the ridges, 

 and covering in the manure and the sets at the same time. 

 For ordinary purposes, about 3 inches is the best depth 

 for the sets ; for winter planting they ought to be covered 

 by 6 inches of soil. The distance between the ridges 

 should not be less than 27 inches, which, for the reasons 

 given at page 224, is perhaps the most convenient width. 

 The "sets" or tubers should be deposited at about 12 to 

 15 inch distances apart in the drill, 1 and if directions be 

 given to lay them with the "eyes" or germ downwards, 

 they are placed under better conditions for propagating 



1 It is always bad economy to cover the ground too closely with cultivated 

 plants. A good potato in a good soil should have at least 4 square feet jaf sur- 

 face to itself. Some sets were planted at 5 feet distances, three of which pro- 

 duced respectively 16 Ibs., 11 Ibs., and 10^ Ibs.; and twenty-six others gave a 

 yield of 227 Ibs. of tubers. Agri. Gaz., 1857, p. 582. 



