Cultivation of the Potatoe. 17 
tion of the line traced by the marker, with the furrow formed 
by the plough. It is of importance that the potatoes be set 
as close as possible to the perpendicular side of the furrow, 
and not on that where the slice has been turned over; for, in 
the former position, the potato is more likely to remain in its 
place, and not to be disturbed by the horse’s foot. 
The best ploughmen must be employed to trace the far- 
row in which the potatoes are set; first, to ensure that the 
furrow may be of a proper and uniform depth, — three inches 
on a heavy, and four or five on a sandy soil. If the laborers 
are well practised three ploughs and five planters will finish 
eight acres per day. 
A week after the setting, the ground is harrowed, an op- 
eration by which a few weeds are destroyed. Great numbers 
of them afferwards spring up. Nothing more, however, is 
done to get rid of them till the potatoes are about to spring up 
and some of them just beginning to show their leaves above 
ground. The extirpator is then passed lightly over the 
whole surface of the field. This may be done without fear 
of hurting the potatoes. The whole of the weeds are thus 
destroyed. The soil is left in this state till all the potatoes 
have come up, and is then harrowed to level it. After this 
harrowing, the potatoes are as clean as if they had been care- 
fully weeded, so that it only remains to pass the horse-hoe or 
cultivator over them. 
The first cultivation is performed with the small hoe, and 
should be given in the direction followed by the marking 
plough or furrower; the second must be performed by the 
horn-hoe and in the direction of the plough. This will be 
sufficient in the greater number of cases. If a few weeds 
should have escaped here and there, by growing close to the 
potatoes, it will cost but little labor to pull them up while yet 
in flower. ; 
By these operations the cultivation is completely finished 
Q* 
