THE CULTIVATOR. 
129 
inch of fine earth was drawn. When the shoots were sufficiently 
high, the clods were broken fine and closed about the stems, and the 
ground in the intervals dug deep and fine as possible, and left per¬ 
fectly flat; this was the only tillage which the unearthed potatoes 
received. The produce was about 150 barrels* to the acre. 
Experiment 2 .—In order to determine at what distance in drills 
30 inches apart, it is advantageous to plant the sets, Mr. Robertson 
proceeded as follows: 
In a piece of ground of sixty square yards, (not yards square,) he 
planted eight drills of a new seedling cup potato at 30 inches dis 
tance; these drills, nearly 9 feet in length, he planted, at the dis 
tance above stated as follows : 
Drill 1 the sets 9 inches apart, and 1 shoot left. 
6 
12 
12 
16 
16 
18 
18 
The produce was.— 
Bbls. st. 
Drill 1. 0 
lbs. 
2 
7 
1 
3 
6 
7 
3 
1 
Gross produce,.......... 1 15 2 
Which is about 228 barrels, or 28 tons 10 cwt. to the Irish acre, ac¬ 
curately weighed. This enormous produce was from an alluvial soil 
light and deep. 
Experiment 3.—To ascertain the result of giving unlimited room 
to the potato, and the depth to which the roots would run if unre¬ 
strained. 
On a piece of ground trenched upwards of 3 feet, Mr. Robertson 
planted eight whole potatoes, each 3 feet apart in the row, with un¬ 
limited room to grow at each side. The produce was six stones, 
and the fibres were traced downwards 3 feet, the space they occupi¬ 
ed being equal to that of two drills in Experiment 2. 
Experiment 1 proves the inutility of earthing. 
Experiment 2 gives an interesting demonstration of the advantage 
of free access of air, the outside drills giving such superior produce ; 
and the advantage (25 per cent) of the double stemmed ones over 
the single, at the same distance, proves (combined with the other 
circumstances) the truth of Mr. Knight’s theory, that, in proportion 
to the abundance of its foliage, and the free access of air and light, 
will be the productiveness of the potato. 
From the similarity of produce in the corresponding drills of Nos. 
2, 4 and 6, and in Nos. 3, 5 and 7, it would appear of little impor¬ 
tance at what distance the sets are placed in the drills, provided they 
have sufficient room to spread at each side ; and the extent of this 
must be regulated by experience. 
It is of the highest importance, however, that the ground should 
be deeply worked and highly pulverized: for the potato fibre is ex¬ 
tremely delicate, and cannot penetrate through a hard unyielding 
soil, though it will run freely through that which is loose, and occupy 
the pulverized intervals between the drills. 
Mr. Robertson deems it highly absurd, in shallow soils, to heap 
on the top of the potatoes, where it affords no nutriment, the earth 
which, if left within the range of fibre, would feed it. However, it 
is to be remembered, that some species of potatoes strike upwards, 
cups for instance, (though it appears that Mr. Robertson used these 
in this experiment;) and in such case earthing is most probably use¬ 
ful. Apple potatoes have a downward tendency, and therefore may 
not require moulding. The species under culture, and the nature 
of the soil, should also materially influence the farmer as to the dis¬ 
position of the manure under or over the set. It is obvious that (on 
a dry and porous soil in particular) in the culture of cup potatoes, the 
vegetating tendencies of which are to the surface, it is injudicious to 
place the manure under the sets.— Q. J. Ag. 
* The Kilkenny barrel contains 20 stones of 14 lb.; the total was therefore 
about 700 bushels. 
VOL. I. 
R 
NOTES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE. 
As soon as the ploughman has unyoked his oxen, let him rub them, 
and press their backs strongly with his hands, pulling their hide, and 
not suffering it to adhere close to their flesh, for such adhesion con¬ 
stitutes a very injurious disease. Let him rub their necks thorough¬ 
ly. The oxen are not to be tied to their cribs until they cease to 
perspire and pant: Nor is it proper to give them much food, even 
when it shall be due time to feed them ; but their allowance should 
be dispensed in small quantities at a time, which having finished, 
they may be led forth to water, and enticed to drink by whistling; 
immediately afterwards, they must be satisfied with a large allow¬ 
ance of fodder..— Columella. 
The temper and disposition of cattle are most approved which ap¬ 
proach the mild and gentle, rather than the violent and fierce, still 
without a sluggish heaviness; dismayed at loud and blustering 
words, yet with such a confidence in their own strength, as not to be 
startled at common objects of sight or hearing, or afraid to ford 
rivers or pass bridges : which are great feeders, but slow in masti¬ 
cation : for these digest better than such as devour their food greedi¬ 
ly and with haste, preserving their condition and bodily strength. 
But it would be an equal fault in one who uses laboring oxen, to 
make them fat as to keep them lean; for their condition of body 
ought to be moderate and fit for business, robust and full in the mus¬ 
cles, but not loaded with fat, whence they would be jaded and wea¬ 
ried by their own weight.— Columella. 
The stronger and richer the land is, the more must cattle be kept 
up to a good pitch ; for if on such land cattle are in the winter suf¬ 
fered to run to poverty, or are brought into it poor, they will be lia¬ 
ble to the yellows, or the blain, and most sorts of distempers; for it 
is the same as if you should offer strong meats to weak stomachs.— 
Lisle. 
-Clover intended to be kept the second year for feed, ought not to 
be grazed the first year by sheep, which bite so close as to wound 
the crown of the roots. [The same of other artificial grasses.] The 
leaves and stalks of artificial grasses being full of juices, cattle fed 
upon them, even in the driest summers, scarcely need water. Sheep 
fed on clover will dung quite moist; whereas their excrement, when 
fed on natural grass, will generally be hard and dry. (A double ad¬ 
vantage in the artificial grasses; during seasons of great drought, 
neither the grass nor the cattle wdl feel the common want of water.) 
[Cattle fed in winter upon ruta baga, do not require, and should not 
receive, any water.]— Lisle. 
A young beast may eat well half fat ; but an old cow half fat is 
not eatable, for the whole body of such a cow ought to be filled with 
new juices. A young cow will be fat on the back, but very rarely 
well tallowed within ; whereas an old cow seldom handles so well, 
but generally carries most of her fat within. A two year old ewe 
will fatten and tallow well. The springing or standing out of the 
navel, the best sign of internal fat; also, in lean cattle, such protu¬ 
berance is a sign that they will fatten internally.— Lisle. 
TRANSPLANTING. 
Transplanting is the changing of the localities of entire plants.— 
It is effected by disengaging the roots from the soil, and placing them 
in new situations favorable to the growth and development of the 
plant. 
To accomplish this successfully, it is desirable that the roots be 
preserved fresh and entire. 
The proper seasons for transplanting ornamental and other trees 
and shrubs, are the spring and fall. Generally in October and No¬ 
vember of the latter period, and March and April of the former. It 
is commonly best m colder latitudes to remove the more delicate 
shrubs and trees in spring, but where the climate is not so severe, 
the autumn is preferable. In the latter case, the winter is not so 
likely to prove injurious to them. 
Those which are natives of countries equally cold and rigorous 
with the one to which they are removed, may be transplanted either 
in the spring or autumn, indiscriminately. Such as are natives of 
warmer climates, and have become acclimated, by culture, to higher 
latitudes, may be transplanted in spring. They ought to have eve¬ 
ry advantage that the warm seasons can afford, previous to their 
exposure to the rigors of winter. 
Plants transferred to a less favorable climate, should be removed 
at a period most favorable for them to support the change without 
injury. Delicate trees, when transplanted in spring, form new roots, 
that take firm hold of the earth during summer. Their roots be- 
