and Cottage Economy. 179 



cabbage seed is sown, some seed of the common rape should be sown for 

 winter and spring greens ; they are very good and very productive. 



Late Potatoes form an important crop to the cottager ; for upon this he 

 relies for a supply both for himself, his family *, and his pigs, so that no 

 trouble must be spared in digging and manuring the ground.-]- All the scrap- 

 ings, the mixture, and pig's litter will now be found necessary; for, from these 

 10 rods of ground, 10 sacks of potatoes, each weighing 240 lbs., must be 

 obtained. Two sorts may be planted as follows : — Some time early in 

 April plant 4 rods with the Prussian potato ; it is an excellent sort. It is 

 productive, and, if necessary, it keeps well ; although it is quite fit to eat 

 after the early sorts are over, being an intermediate sort between the early 

 and late ones. This sort should be planted (single eyes) 7 or 8 in. apart, in 

 rows 18 in. asunder. They will be ripe, and must be dug up in the beginning 

 of September, whether they are wanted or not ; and immediately plant the 

 whole 4 rods with the rape plants above mentioned. The remaining 6 rods 

 of ground may be planted, the first week in May, with the Devonshire 

 apple, or prince's beauty potatoes : both red, and excellent sorts. Plant 

 single eyes, cut from prune potatoes (as all single eyes should be), the same 

 distance as directed for the Prussians, unless the ground should be wet ; in 

 which case, 2 ft. between the rows will be preferable : but, at whatever 

 period potatoes are planted, in all cases, as soon as the plants show their 

 heads, let the ground be well moved about them \, that is, hacked with a 

 light mattock. This will destroy the weeds §, and cause the plants to grow 

 rapidly, till it is time to earth them up, which should be done when they are 

 about 6 in. high. This operation, with the previous " hacking," if done in 

 fine dry weather, will most effectually destroy the weeds for the season. || 



* Potatoes, after being washed, may be put on to boil in cold water with- 

 out being peeled. When half done, the water may be poured from them, 

 and fresh cold water added, which is also to be poured away when they are 

 boiled sufficiently. They are then to be left by the fire to dry for a short 

 time, before the skins are taken off, and will be found more floury when 

 boiled in this way than when the water is not changed. This quality, so 

 valuable to those who make the principal part of their meal of this vege- 

 table, and which renders them a better substitute for bread, may be con- 

 sidered as making amends for the greater length of time taken in cooking, 

 and, consequently, larger consumption of fuel. — Practical. The Lanca- 

 cashire mode of cooking potatoes is as follows : — " Brush off the skins, set 

 them on the fire in cold water : when boiled, pour off the water completely, 

 add a little salt, and dry them well on the fire." (Gard. Mag., vol. i. 

 p. 407.) 



f The richness, the quantity, and the healthiness of his crops will depend 

 on the abundance and judicious application of manures ; the complete ex- 

 tirpation of weeds and noxious roots ; regular, deep, and repeated forking ; 

 a careful choice of seeds for sowing ; and, as far as his confined space will 

 admit, a proper rotation of crops. — A Friend to the Cottager. 



% Hoe between ridges of potatoes and cabbages, 6 or 7 in. deep, with a 

 two-pronged hoe. — T. A. 



§ As soon as any plants sown in drills make their appearance, be very 

 careful to stir the soil between them with a thrust or pronged hoe, whether 

 weedy or not. This is of most essential service to a garden, and is very 

 seldom sufficiently attended to. Where this is practised, there are no weeds ; 

 and less manure, with this treatment, is better than more manure without 

 it. — Shibboleth. 



|| During this and the following months, let the ground be deeply and fre- 

 quently hoed among all the crops, particularly during dry weather. Weeds 



N 2 



