334 PRACTICAL AGRICULTURE. 



The seed end is always to be prefered for several reasons. 

 1. The potatoes will be two weeks earlier. 2. The other 

 part of the potato is valuable for cooking or domestic ani- 

 mals. 3. The eyes next to the point where the tuber is at- 

 tached to the stalk, will produce only weak shoots and small 

 tubers. Hence, as the size of the tuber will depend upon 

 the seed, and size of the tuber from which the seed is taken, 

 we have an easy and certain rule which we may adopt, in 

 reference to the seed required for this crop. The quantity of 

 seed may vary from 10 to 20 bushels per acre. 



The soil best fitted for potatoes, is a light sandy loam ; but 

 they will flourish well on almost any soil, especially on green 

 sward. For culinary purposes, the soil should be light and 

 dry, but of a deep tillage. 



The mode of preparing the soil, is, either to turn it over 

 after green manure or compost has been spread over the sur- 

 face, or, if moist, to throw it into ridges, and plant the pota- 

 toes in drills or rows, about six inches apart. In the former 

 case, the potatoe hills may be 3 feet by 2, with 3 or 4 seed 

 ends in a hill. Whether potatoes should be cultivated in hills 

 or drills, is not well settled. It is a common practice to ma- 

 nure potatoes in the hills or drills, but unless there is a want 

 of manure, this process is not so good as that of burying the 

 manure deeply under the surface. Potatoes require to be 

 covered from 3 to 6 inches in depth, according to the mois- 

 ture of the soil. The after culture should be first with the 

 cultivator, and then with the hoe. Some recommend a flat 

 surface, which may succeed well, if the soil is very deep and 

 light ; otherwise, there should be large broad hills, in order 

 to give the air and water a free circulation to the roots. 



The time of harvesting potatoes will depend upon their 

 maturity. They should be suffered to remain in the ground 

 until the stalk is perfectly dry. If the tubers are taken qut of 

 the ground before they are perfectly ripe, they will be liable 

 to wilt, or to become unwholesome before spring. The best 



