loith a neio Planting -Machine. 



41 



cross-bar, and presses the planter down into the earth 

 till the cross-bar reaches the top of the bed ; it is then 

 withdrawn with the left hand and the potato dropped 

 into the hole. This part of the process may be done 

 by a boy, or an aged person, with ease and despatch. 

 After the bed has been planted it is raked over, which 

 draws the earth over the holes, and closes up the pota- 

 toes. When they have sprung up high enough for 

 earthing-up they are hoed, which brings the manure 

 between the rows close up to the plants. This ma- 

 nure is very beneficial by keeping the earth open ; and, 

 being washed in by the rain among the loose earth, 

 is a great advantage for the potatoes setting and grow- 

 ing. 



The following is the greatest produce we have on 

 record from three roots of potatoes. The competition 'Lancashire 



, , -111- 1X11/ Potato-Dibber. 



produced considerable mterest at the -Leyland (near 

 Preston) Agricultural and Horticultural Association, which met 

 Oct. 26. 1841. There were four competitors for the prizes. The 

 first was obtained for a basket containing 61^ lb. of potatoes 

 from only three roots of Kemp's Seedling : they were grown by 

 Mr. Rose, jun. The second prize was taken by Mr. J. Lovett, 

 jun., Leyland; his three roots produced 66^ lb. The third 

 prize was given to Mr. J. Ashcroft, Leyland; his three roots 

 produced 61 lb. The fourth was awarded to Mr. J. Leyland ; 

 his three roots produced 60 lb. This Kemp's Seedling is a 

 most excellent po- 

 tato, and always 

 fetches a high price 

 in the market for its 

 quality ; it is consi- 

 dered fit for suc- 

 ceeding the first ear- 

 ly potatoes. 



I have enclosed 

 a sketch {fig- 3.) 

 of an improved po- 

 tato-planter. The 

 improvement is this. 

 It is made of tin. 

 On the top there is 

 a pan for holding 

 the potato sets. 

 The part a first 

 makes the place 

 where the seeds are 



Fig. 3. Saul's Potato- 

 Planting Machine. 



Fig. 4. SauVs Potato-Planting 

 Machine in use. 



to go into; the machine is then raised by the handle (/;), and 



