108 Potatoes raised on lazy Beds. 



but by uniting their powers they are enabled 

 to plough and raise their potatoes on stitches ; 

 while the less wealthy cottier is compelled to 

 the labor of the shovel, and to continue the 

 practice of his forefathers, by planting them on 

 lazy beds: this is performed by cutting trenches 

 two feet deep on each side of an interval, or 

 bed, six feet wide; on the grass or surface of 

 which the potatoe sets are laid in rows, and then 

 covered over with the excavated earth from the 

 trenches, which is repeated from time to time, 

 as the shoots require to be moulded up. Fifteen 

 years ago this was a common practice in the 

 North of England, but it is now generally 

 abandoned. 



In a country where there is such a redundance 

 of manual labor, the sacrifice of time is little 

 esteemed; yet it cannot be questioned that 

 while the labor is greater, the produce is less. 



The land let to the cottiers is after the rate 

 of four pounds per Irish acre (five roods) ; and 

 if manure for the potatoe crop be supplied by 

 the parties letting, an additional sum is charged 

 by them, who, in general, pay about forty-two 

 shillings per acre for the farms they occupy. 

 One fourth of the ground in tillage may be con- 

 sidered as applied to the growth of potatoes, be* 



