Cultivation of the Potatoe. 15 
locks, than when they are arranged in continuous lines. My 
farmers are more willing to raise potatoes planted singly, for 
the fourteenth part of the produce, than for the tenth when 
they are planted in rows, for a man will raise eighteen schef- 
fles of the former in a day, where of the latter he would raise 
only ten, even though they may have been cultivated with 
the same care. This saving of time in taking the crop is of 
great importance. 
Such are the reasons which induce me to prefer the meth- 
od of setting potatoes at moderate distances, and arranging 
them in lines in all directions. I admit that when this meth- 
od is adopted, a somewhat larger extent of surface is required 
for the production of a given quantity; but the great saving 
of labor, and the excellent preparation of the land which it 
affords, are of much greater importance. 
In setting potatoes regard must be had to the state of the 
weather. In this country I never plant them till the soil has 
become heated; and I have always observed that the pota- 
toes set last were the first to come up. I have planted them 
with success till the beginning of June; but I endeavor to 
get the setting finished by the middle of May. If the soil 
contain ever so small a quantity of clay, it is absolutely ne- 
cessary to defer the planting till it is perfectly dry, and no 
longer adheres to the implements. 
As early as possible in autumn I break up the soil to the 
depth of two inches lower than before, and then pass the har- 
row over it. In winter the dung is carted and uniformly 
spread. At the beginning of spring, this dung is buried by a 
light ploughing. I like to have a portion of the manure 
brought up to the surface by this operation, because a greater 
quantity is then collected around the roots of the potatoe. 
