56 
Garden Work 
To begin with, the ground must be thoroughly culti- 
vated and fairly well manured, though the crops from 
very rich soil are never of the best quality. In fact, the 
best potatoes, from a culinary point of view, are often taken 
from poor land, though the crops may not be large. It 
is better to spread the manure broadcast on the soil 
and dig it in, rather than allow the potatoes to come in 
Underground Stem of Potato; also a Tuber (inset) 
contact with it. The roots will very soon ramify in all 
directions and obtain their food substances from the 
manure. 
Some cottagers plant their potatoes as they dig; that 
is, they commence the digging of their ground, and as 
soon as they have dug a sufficient quantity they put on 
the line, make a small trench with the spade, and put in 
the manure. The potatoes are then planted on the top 
of the manure and covered over with the next spit of 
