NOVEMBER. 
323 
and will become more of the character of a pure vegetable manure. If 
farm manure can only be applied at planting time, spread it over the 
surface after planting the crop, in preference to putting it in with the 
sets, which on no account should be done. The only manures of this 
kind admissible in the drills with the seed are well decomposed tree 
leaves, which produce nice clean tubers, or the sweepings of towns and 
manures collected on public roads, both of which contain a portion of 
sand and grit in their composition. These are good and safe manures 
for the Potato. 
Never dig in Turnip-greens, Rape, or Tares, as is sometimes done 
for manure; they keep the ground too cold and damp. 
Two cwt. of guano mixed with 2 cwt. of superphosphate, and again 
with 50 bushels of wood or coal ashes, is a very good- application ; two- 
thirds may be applied in the drills at planting time, and the remainder 
thrown between the rows before earthing them up, and if possible in 
wet weather. We prefer, however, as cheaper and quite as good, if 
not better manure, 3 cwt. of superphosphate and from 40 to 50 
bushels of household soot, per acre. When the soil is much deficient 
of lime, 4 cwt. of the phosphate may be allowed, to increase the bulk. 
For equalising this application,, we mix with it ashes prepared by 
burning weeds, hedge trimmings, &c., in the previous summer, which 
are kept dry for the purpose. We like this dressing best ourselves, 
and have seen the cleanest and largest crops obtained through it, as we 
have noticed before. Soot can be obtained at from 8c/. to Is. per bushel 
in most localities, and is then one of the cheapest manures of its class. 
Apply as recommended above; two-thirds with the seed, and the 
remainder between the rows when earthing up. Again : ashes, soot, 
and artificial manures generally, are best adapted to strong soils ; farm¬ 
yard manures to lighter ones, which are dry and sandy. 
Our reason for not applying all these dressings with the seed is, that 
should very hot weather follow the entire bulk of soot in the drill might 
prove too heating. On dry soils one-half only will be sufficient to drill 
in with the seed, reserving the other half till the plants are some inches 
high, when it should be spread between the rows, if possible in wet 
weather, and afterwards just buried with the hoe : the roots of the plant 
by this time are extending themselves, and this dressing is of the 
greatest use to them and produces an immediate effect in their appear¬ 
ance ; indeed, were it not for taking up too much time, the sets should 
first be covered an inch deep with soil, and then apply the dressing 
over the rows, six or eight inches wide, covering it an inch or two deep. 
The roots of Potatoes are all formed immediately above the old set, and 
would, when forming, find themselves working amongst the manure— 
but this can hardly be done on a large scale, though applicable to 
gardens and allotments. 
Plant mg-time .— Let this be as early as circumstances will permit. 
March is the most suitable season ; from the middle of February to 
the first week of April are the extremes—the mean between the two, 
the best. Allow a fair width between the rows; the tops, when full 
grown, should not touch each other ; this will allow the air to circulate 
freely between the plants. Deep tillage is recommended for two 
