THE MANSE GARDEN. 185 



very laws of vegetable production there is laid a check 

 to the worst of moral evils, as well as an incentive 

 to the virtues that adorn humanity and prepare for a 

 world to come. 



With regard to the storing of potatoes out of 

 doors and their safety in winter, the progress of frost 

 ought to be observed. As soon as it has got to the 

 depth of seven inches in the ground the potato pits 

 are in danger, and may certainly be saved by covering 

 them with a thick coat of litter or a plentiful supply 

 of ivhins. The other difficulties are incessant growing 

 in spring, or shriveling when the growth is checked 

 by dry air. Some recipes that have been given to 

 the public are quite fallacious. A dip in boiling water 

 settles the question as to growth, but the potato soon 

 decays; salt prevents all vegetation, but if to such an 

 extent it be mingled with soil for covering potatoes 

 it destroys them. The extraction of the buds, 

 though it impedes the growth only for a time, is the 

 most common and for general use the best remedy, 

 together with clean sweeping, thin spreading, and 

 occasional turning in an open well aired place. This, 

 however, cannot prevent shriveling; but the follow- 

 ing though somewhat troublesome operation seems 

 to answer all ends, and may be tried with a few, for 

 very long keeping, after the more common methods 

 have failed. Make a pit two feet deep, in a shady 

 place, as on the north side of a wall; drench the pit 

 with water ; then tumble in the potatoes, previously 

 cleared of their shoots, and drench them also ; lay 

 over them a green turf with the grass downward, to 

 be also watered ; and heap up the earth, beating it 

 as hard and compact as possible. The rationale of 



