VEGETABLES POTATO. 193 



bles, Potatoes can be grown with varying success on soils 

 of all kinds and in all conditions of fertility ; but it is 

 every way most profitable to use an abundance of ma- 

 nure, when it is at all attainable. In breaking up good 

 pasture land, the decaying sod answers sufficiently well 

 for the first year in lieu of manure. Manure is applied 

 either in the rows or hills, or broadcast over the surface, 

 and plowed in ; the latter plan in all cases being prefer- 

 able, when manure can be obtained in sufficient quantities. 



Potatoes, when grown for market, are always a farm crop, 

 the receipts per acre being much too low for the regular 

 market garden ; the large quantities that are planted usu- 

 ally prevent the use of manure in any other way except in 

 the rows. When thus applied, furrows are plowed out in 

 spring, after the ground has become dry and warm, usu- 

 ally 3 feet apart, and from 3 to 4 inches deep. The ma- 

 nure is spread in the furrow, the "sets" or "seed" 

 planted thereon, from 8 to 1 inches apart, and the furrow 

 again covered in by the plow. As soon as the shoots are 

 seen above ground, the ridge should be at once hoed, and 

 the cultivator run between the rows; as they advance in 

 growth, the soil should be laid up on each side against 

 the row, so as to form a slight ridge. 



Considerable discussion has at various times occurred 

 concerning the relative merits of planting cut or whole 

 tubers, but is yet undecided, each system having its advo- 

 cates ; a fact which goes far to prove that it is of little 

 consequence which method is followed. The best rule, in 

 our experience is, to plant the whole small tubers if fully 

 matured, and the larger ones cut, but in either case leav 

 ing enough bulk to give sufficient sustenance to the plant. 



