ABOUT FRUITS, FLOWERS AXD FARMING. 389 



bulbs arc now forming and spreading; then gently run 

 your double mold-board plow through the whole field again, 

 narrowing the wings of it, which will have the effect of 

 adding the earth, and compressing it to the bottom of the 

 drill, where the bulbs are forming, rather than throwing it 

 up to the stalk at top, where there is sufficient already. 

 This finishes the cultivation. 



" To prepare the seed you must select well-shaped, even 

 potatoes, not too small nor too large. Cut them, leaving one 

 good eye at least to every set ; prepare them from two to 

 three weeks at least, before you plant ; and each day, as you 

 cut, roll your sets in pulverized lime, and spread them on 

 the barn floor to dry : when dry, heap them in a corner till 

 taken out to plant. If this plan is pursued, and the ground 

 selected and prepared as directed, you may rest satisfied 

 that so sure as the laws of nature are invariable, and that 

 like effects follow like causes, as sure will a good and sound 

 crop of potatoes be produced in this climate with no vari- 

 ation in the result, except what may be occasioned by the 

 vicissitudes of the season. 



" Ten tons of potatoes, two thousand two hundred and 

 forty pounds to the ton, is considered a fair crop in Ire- 

 land. Twelve tons an extra one equal to three hundred 

 and seventy bushels the first, and four hundred and forty- 

 four bushels the second, allowing sixty pounds to the 

 bushel, which I have found to be about the average weight 

 of a bushel here. I have grown four crops of potatoes in 

 this country, in two different situations and latitudes (six 

 aores the smallest quantity cultivated any season). Each 

 crop was treated in every particular as here described, 

 and in three instances out of the four, I got a little over 

 four hundred measured bushels to the acre. The fourth 

 crop was only about three hundred and fifty bushels to the 

 acre, caused by the peculiarity of the season, which pro- 

 duced an almost entire failure with my neighbors, under 

 their management." 



