THE IARMEr’S manual. 
4a 
considered as one of the most exhausting crops, and 
potatoes one of the least. 
When it is considered, that the true art of farming 
consists in obtaining the greatest profit from an acre 
of land without exhausting the soil, or rather by cul- 
ture to increase its fertility, the balance will be found, 
in an increased ratio, in favour of the potatoe crop. 
No field cultui’e admits of a greater variety than 
that of the potatoe; some farmers select the largest 
for seed, and plant one in a hill ; others select the 
smallest, and plant several in a hill ; some divide the 
largest potatoe into two parts, and plant one half in 
a hill ; others both halves ; some divide both the 
large and small potatoes into four parts, and place 
the four pieces in the hill at 4 to 8 inches asunder; 
others cut out the eyes of the potatoe, and plant them 
promiscuously, as they plant Indian-corn, 4,5,or C in 
a hill, and thereby save the potatoe for their stock ; I 
have found all these modes to answer well, and have 
heard good farmers extol each of these modes as 
being the best, according to their practice. To illus- 
trate this subject, I will give an extract from the Penn- 
sylvania Farmer : 
“ On the 2d day of May, I had six large potatoes that 
weighed 2lbs. and 2oz. cut into thirty-three sets, with 
two eyes each, which were planted in a stiff deep soil, 
with a small quantity of rotten dung scattered under and 
over the sets, which were placed about 6 inches deep, 
at the following distance in the rows, divided by pegs ; 
No. 1, 11 cuts, at 6 inches distance. 
No. 2, 1 1 do.' at 9 do. do. 
No. 3, 11 do. at 12 do. do. 
They were hoed twice. On the 10th of October, the 
earth was carefully drawn from off the plants, which 
were extended across the rows. The produce was 
as follows: 
No. 1 contained 124 potatoes, which weighed 
28lbs. lOoz. and occupied 6 feet in length. 
