136 
The Potato in Jersey. 
land to he overikklon with woods ; and lastly, when the tubers 
were raised, instead of measuring^ out the cart-loads of o:ood 
healthy fruit, a miserable half-rotted crop was the return, which 
in many places did not yield the original quantity used for sets 
in planting. Such is the difference of the potato-crop before 
and after the disease; but, as we have observed, a new era has 
taken place in thoir culture here, and, God be praised, plenty 
smiles again upon our fields. With the present system, viz., the 
growth of early potatoes for the London and other principal 
English markets, a variety of changes has followed, some of 
which it is necessary to mention. Let us first consider how the 
cultivation is carried on, and afterwards cursorily examine its 
off"ects. The selection of suitable land is the first consideration. 
If the soil be what is termed of a warm nature, and with a gentle 
declivity southwards, so much the better. The next important 
point is the preparation of the soil ; we do not now find it neces- 
sary to cultivate so deeply as was formerly the practice. The 
ploughing is carried on very much in the same manner as that 
before described, but the application of the manure is different. 
When the ground has been ploughed and well harrowed, it is 
the general custom to spread well-made stable-manure on the 
surface, at the rate of 10 tons per vergee, no sea-weed is used, 
but a much more powerful agent has taken its place, namely, 
guano. The potato rows are now closer than formerly ; the 
planting takes place on large pieces, in the manner before 
explained, with the use of a small plough for making and covering 
the drills. As will be noticed, the manure in this manner is 
ploughed in Avith the sets ; then, in addition to this, guano is used, 
very frequently at the rate of 200, or even 300 lbs. per vergee. 
Those unacquainted with the growth of early potatoes will be 
amazed at this apparent extravagance of fertilizing power ; but 
extravagance it is not, as Avill be l)y-and-by perceived. The 
preparation of the plant intended for sets is of the utmost im- 
portance. Kidney potatoes as a rule are planted whole, and the 
round varieties are planted in strong sets, with eyes from the 
crown of the plant. The kidney varieties commonly planted 
are the Ashleaf, the Prolific, and the Winford, alias Early 
Fluke, The round varieties most esteemed are the Cherbourg 
Troia JMois, the Dalmahoy, and the Early Regents. Potatoes 
intended for plant should be dug before the haulm is entirely 
dried up : when dug they should be allowed to harden by ex- 
posure to the air and sun, occasionally turning them. Then at 
the fall of the year, if they are stowed away singly in layers on 
wooden floors it will retard too early a vegetation, which other- 
wise is frequently the case. By a little attention the tuber in 
tliis way is checked in its habit of early growth, and when the 
