HOCKINGS'' GARDEN MANUAL. 



143 



Shirley Hibbard, a successful grower, who gets nine- 

 teen tons to the acre, free from disease, gives many 

 valuable directions for the cultivation of the potato, 

 which might, with advantage, be tried here in gardens. 

 He recommends a fresh, crumbly loam, so situated as 

 not to suffer from heavy rains, which had been manured 

 heavily for cabbage the previous season, so as to be very 

 rich and light. It is dug a full spade deep, and the 

 whole potatoes, about two or three ounces each, are 

 lightly trenched in — that is, laid along in drills, opened 

 by the spade at proper distances, and covered by the 

 spade in making the next trench. The soil above, 

 around, and under them cannot be too loose and fri- 

 able, and from the moment the sets are in, not a foot 

 should be set on it, until the time comes for hoeing 

 them over. At the time of planting, the sets should 

 be firm, slightly sprouted ; the sprouts close, very stiff, 

 and strong, and dark green or purple. Charred rubbish, 

 to the depth of two or three inches, is scattered over 

 the whole bed after the first hoeing, and the crop is 

 not earthed up. The potatoes are dug before the haulm 

 is quite dead. 



A large number of new sorts have been imported, 

 but have not yet been grown to any considerable ex- 

 tent. A round, white variety, received some years ago, 

 known as Webster's Best, has earned for itself a good 

 reputation for flavor, earliness, and productiveness ; 

 and an American potato, called the Early Rose, which 

 caused quite a furore there when it was first made 

 known,., has been introduced here by Mr. Cribb, and 

 has produced very satisfactory crops. 



THE SWEET POTATO. 



This valuable esculent requires a rich, dry, loamy 

 soil, inclined to sand. The land should be ploughed 

 deep, and well manured. Potash and the phosphates 



