398 GARDENING FOB THE SOUTH. 



The rows should be from two to two and a half feet 

 asunder, and the sets from six to twelve inches in the 

 row, the greater distances for the tall-growing sorts. 

 Experiments in England have proved that there the best 

 crops are secured when the sets are planted six inches 

 dec]), or in light sandy soil not less than seven inches. 

 The sets should be cut a week before planting, and 

 allowed to dry. A medium-sized tuber will make five or 

 six sets. After the ground has been well prepared by 

 plowing or spading, dig a trench eight inches deep, the 

 width of the spade, and in the bottom of this form a slight 

 furrow with a hoe, that the sets may be in a line. In this 

 furrow the sets are placed. Cover with a good coat of 

 manure of the kinds before directed, to which manipu- 

 lated guano, or super-phosphate of lime and gypsum, may 

 be added with advantage. The earth is hauled over them, 

 leaving the surface some two or three inches below the 

 general level, that the plants may receive and retain 

 near them all the rain that falls. After the plains come 

 up hoe them well, but do not disturb the ground if there 

 is any apprehension of even a slight frost. "When all 

 danger of frost is over, they should, if possible, receive 

 a good mulching of leaves directly after a good, heavy 

 rain, and some trash may be laid over to keep the leaves 

 in place. The leaves must not be put on too early, as 

 when applied before the frosts are entirely over the 

 evaporation from a bed of damp leaves so lowers the tem- 

 perature at their surface that a frost scarcely perceptible 

 elsewhere may prove fatal to tender plants thus mulched. 



If the leaves are not to be obtained, keep the soil free 

 from weeds by flat culture, until the tops cover the 

 ground. The early crop may alternate with Lima beans, 

 making the rows five feet apart in this case, and they will 

 be ready for digging when the beans, which are planted 

 in hills between the potato rows, are fit for use. This crop 



