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as to leave one or more eyes in each cutting; in regard to their sub- 

 sequent treatment, just about the time the shoots began to make their 

 appearance, the drills were harrowed down with a pair of small con- 

 cave harrows, which covered two drills and were guided by the dri- 

 ver behind. During the growing season, they were generally hoed 

 twice, being preceded each time with the horse-hoe between the 

 rows. A harrow (something in the form of the cultivator used in 

 this country,) was employed after each hoeing; and fnally a double 

 mouldboard plow was used in earthing them up; all this was done 

 in the most regular and systematic order, the cost of labor being 

 considered of little consequence, where it could be obtained so low, 

 and with such good advantage. I have taken the liberty of stating 

 the foregoing as the result of my experience, and observations on 

 the other side of the Atlantic, in regard to the cultivation of the 

 potato; from a conviction that a mode somewhat similar might be 

 practiced to a good advantage in this country. 



I now take the liberty of stating to you, my experience in this 

 branch of husbandry in this country last year, and which I am hap- 

 py to say, was attended with the most favorable results. I planted 

 between 10 or 11 acres with Mercers, (which I always considered 

 the most profitable,) which yielded over 1,800 bushels; two thirds 

 of the seed were small, planted whole; the rest were large which I 

 had cut, the small contained about one third of a mixture of differ- 

 ent sorts. The Mercers were all good, but the others were very poor, 

 which caused a smaller yield than would otherwise have been reali- 

 zed. The lot in which they were planted, was of a light dry na- 

 ture, and lies in an open and elevated situation; it was cropped with 

 oats the year previous, and plowed twice in the fall; and in the 

 spring when the ground was sufficiently dry, we spread the manure 

 (which was principally from horse stables well rotted,) broad-cast 

 and plowed it. We then drilled and planted the potatoes somewhat 

 similar to the way I have described above; opening the drills one 

 way, and covering the potatoes the other. A bush was employed in 

 levelling down the drills when the tops began to make their appear- 

 ance; and previous to hoeing we had them well worked with the 

 cultivator. But owing to the rapidity of their growth and other 

 things requiring our attention, we only hoed them once; but had 

 them well earthed up, which I consider of great advantage to this 

 vegetable ; a superabundance of moisture being detrimental to its 

 growth, and the quality of the tuber. 



