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GARDENINa FOR THE SOUTH. 



Spanisli variety, like tlie sugar cane and many other plants 

 long propagated by division, rarely produces seed. 



Just as soon as the tops are killed by frost, the potatoes 

 should be gathered. In field crops they can be ploughed 

 up and gathered by hands which follow the plough, de- 

 positing the potatoes in small heaps, but in the garden the 

 potato can be gathered with the hoe or the potato hook, 

 an implement much used in gathering crops of the Irish 

 potato. It is better to do this in a dry day, and many 

 prefer to dig their potatoes just before the frost kills the 

 vines thinking they keep better. 



Keeping potatoes is a rather difficult matter. The fol- 

 lowing is Mr. Peabody's plan : Let the small heaps dry 

 during the day. In handling them, take care not to bruise 

 or injure the skin. Put them up in hills, containing thirty 

 or forty bushels each. Make a circular trench as large as 

 the hill you wish to make. Elevate the earth surrounded 

 by it about six inches, or sufficient to prevent the access 

 of moisture. Cover this over with pine straw, and pile up 

 the potatoes upon this in a regular cone. If the weather 

 is good, cover them only with pine or other straw for two 

 or three days, until the potatoes are well dried, before 

 their final earthing up. Let the covering of straw be three 

 or four inches thick ; then cover it over with large strips 

 of pine bark, commencing at the base, and cover as shing- 

 ling unto the top, leaving a small aperture. Cover four 

 or five inches thick with earth over all, except this aper- 

 ture, which must be left open for the escape of the heat 

 and moisture generated within. 



Some cover this opening with a piece of pine bark, to 

 keep out the rain, but a board shelter is preferable. When 

 the weather gets warm, in the spring, take up the pota- 

 toes, rub off the sprouts, and keep on a dry floor. If put 

 up with care, they will keep until July. One important 



