The same remarks, however, are equally applicable to all other kinds of roots, for according to Liebig, "Fallow-turnips, cabbage, beets, &c., are considered to belong to a class which impoverish the soil."

There are numerous methods of cultivating the potato. Ireland, though it cannot be called the father-land, yet is well entitled to the appellation of foster-land to this invaluable root. In that interesting country potato-culture is, in many places, performed with the spade, upon beds a few feet broad, upon which potatoes are laid promiscuously, after manure has been spread on the surface. The potatoes are then covered with earth, dug from the trenches. When the plants have appeared a little above ground, they are again covered with earth derived from the same source. This process of earthing up is continued until the plants blossom, when it is discontinued. This is called the "lazybed-system." It is still practised in several parts of Ireland, in some counties in England, and the Western Islands of Scotland. This plan is universally condemned by the best cultivators, and can only be applicable on the small farms of Ireland, or other places, where the land is tilled by spade husbandry, and where manual labor is at discount in the market. Another popular way of planting potatoes in Ireland, is by the method called “kibbing." The operator with his right hand and left foot thrusts his spade a few inches into the ground in a sloping direction, then raises it a little up, and with the left hand throws into the vacancy behind the spade, a potato set, which he takes from a small bag suspended from his neck. The spade is instantly withdrawn, the tuber is buried, and in this way the potatoes are planted broadcast or in rows with amazing celerity. The general plan in Ireland now, is to plow the land in ridges which are levelled with the spade, the potatoes are laid on the surface and then covered with earth from the furrows. They are earthed up once or twice during the season.

The original practice in Scotland was by dibbling in rows about thirty inches apart. The manure was plowed in broadcast, and the potatoes dibbled in every third furrow. This method, though somewhat tedious, was excellently adapted for preventing the drouth from affecting the manure and the tender roots of the plants, which is invariably the case in drills ridged up in an exposed position. Sometimes the method is practiced by women and children following the plow and dropping the seed into every third furrow. When this is the case, the plowing must be

very shallow, as four or five inches is generally considered sufficiently deep for depositing the tubers. Excessive earthing up should be avoided. When potatoes are planted in drills the cuttings or sets are placed from six to ten inches apart.

Mr. Falkner, the author of "British Husbandry" says, "when potatoes. are cultivated upon a large scale, the operation is very similar to that described in sowing turnips, in which the trenches may be made either at one operation of a double-breasted plow, or by a single plow, by what is called "a bout," or going and returning; the dung is then carted and spread in the trenches, and the potato-sets afterwards thrust through it, so as to rest upon the ground, by which means it is less likely to be disturbed in the operation of covering, which should be done by the hand-hoe. We must, however, admit that there is much difference of opinion as to the best mode of putting in the manure for potato crops; for although long stable dung, in a fresh state, is very generally used, and most generally in drills, some put it under and other over the sets."

In our own country, the method of planting the potato in hills about three, or threea-nd-a-half feet apart is almost universal. It is emimently American, and perhaps better adapted to the climate than any other system that could be introduced. During our warm summers the roots of the plants are better protected from drought than they could possibly be by the so called improved drill system. "Hilling" is well "calculated for the meridian" of a new country; besides the produce will be as abundant, or nearly so, by this system as by any other. Every system will have its advocates, but by whichever way the potato is planted, it is of the first importance that the land should be thoroughly prepared, especially if old, and freed as much as possible from noxious weeds and roots.

In preparing the soil, a first plowing, as deep as possible, should be made in Autumn, in order that the land, especially if stiff, may have the advantage of the Winter's frost. By this plan, not only are tenacious soils pulverized, but destructive grubs destroyed, and the roots of troublesome weeds eradicated. Winter-fallowing, if the expression may be allowed, is better than bare Summer-fallowing. A thorough pulverization of the soil is indispensible to the successful rearing of the potato; therefore, a second plowing and harrowing in the Spring previous to the time of planting, (which should immediately follow,) will

be requisite on any soil, but especially on lands stiff or tenacious. Good, deep, thorough plowing is not more essential in husbandry than good close, thorough harrowing. Many endeavor to have the former well done, while the latter is comparatively left undone.

Since the appearance of the potato-disease, many farmers have plowed in the manure, at the Autumn or first plowing, while others put it into the drills along with the potato, either under or above, as formerly described. In humid countries like Great Britain, it may be unimportant which plan is adopted; but in countries subject to long periodical drought, there can be no question that fall manuring is pre-eminently the better way. The manure is thereby decomposed and assimilates itself to the soil.

The period of planting in our Northern latitude may be fixed with safety about the beginning of May down to the first of June. In Great Britain the common varieties are generally planted the last week of April, or the first week of May; the earlier kinds, from the middle of March to the end of April. A very general opinion prevails in this country, that late planted potatoes give a greater yield than those that are planted early. This may hold true in some seasons, but on an average of years, the early planted roots will not only be more productive, but what is of great importance, more sound and nutritive as regards quality. It is now well known that early planted potatoes frequently escape the "disease," while the late planted are often destroyed. So well is this understood in the United Kingdoms, that British farmers not only plant early in the season, (from March to May,) but plant the early varieties. The kind used in these Islands, is what is called the Second American Early. The common varieties, formerly so productive, are now so very precarious that they are seldom planted. The early kinds are ripened and ready for "lifting" before the blight makes its appear

ance.

The greater the quantity of farinaceous matter that a potato contains the more subject it is to disease. Hence, the favorite Meshannock, from its fine quality, is amongst the first to suffer; while the Yam, Rohans and Merinoes escape with impunity. It may be generally known that potatoes with red flowers are more predisposed to disease than those bearing white ones. The disease, too, does not effect the farina, but the fibrous part of the tuber. The farinaceous matter, therefore, of diseased

potatoes, if not too far gone, may be extracted and used for food with all safety; as according to Professor Johnston, of Durham, England, it contains no deleterious matter. It may also be used for starch.*

It has been a matter of dispute amongst practical men whether potatoes intended for seed should be allowed to attain a perfect ripeness, or whether they should be lifted before they are perfectly ripe. The advocates of the latter mode assert that green or unripe potatoes, as they contain more nutritive matter, always produce better crops. Those who advocate the former opinion, maintain that as unripe potatoes never keep well, they consequently cannot produce the best and soundest crops. Truth may lie, as it often does, between extremes. Let farmers exercise prudence and judgment in the matter. Many recommend that potatoes intended for next year's seed should be planted late and lifted early, that the tubers may contain a sufficiency of juice to nourish the young plant before it is capable of collecting much sap from the soil.

Since the potato has shown symptoms of degeneracy, doubts have been raised as to the propriety of planting the crop according to the uniform practice, by sets or cuttings having one or more eyes of the potato in each. No objections can be raised, it is conceived, to the planting of the entire tuber, except on the ground of economy; and it is a fact that an unwise policy has carried some, nay, almost every one, instead of selecting the best, to lay aside the worst, the refuse of their crops for seed! Nature propagates by the entire tuber. Agriculturists should study nature.

"Nature is the friend of truth!”

The potato being generally considered a hardy plant, little care was exercised either as regarded its cultivation or preservation. At seed time the large and healthy tubers were selected for the table, and the small and refuse for seed! Anything, at one time, short of a stone, it was conceived, would produce good potatoes. Even small potatoes were divided into several parts, mere atoms, destitute of nutritive matter, insufficient to nourish the tender root until it attained the requisite stamina to attract its support from the soil. Hence the wisdom of cutting the sets large, when the tubers are divided. Some philosophers have said that there is no opinion so absurd but that it will have its advo

*Farina or potato-flour is extensively used in France by bakers and confectioners for the purpose of giving lightness to their bread and pastry, &c. It forms a light and wholesome food for infants, children and invalids. The method of obtaining the flour will be given in the appendix, No. 1.

cates; and "small potato advocates" are not wanting, who aver that as good a crop, good in quality and abundant in quantity, may be realized from small seed as from large sets, or whole moderate sized potatoes. Now, it has been ascertained that the produce from the entire tuber is generally superior, and that there is a corresponding ratio between the weight of the sets, whether cut or whole, and the weight of the produce. In the report of the Dublin Agricultural Society, it is stated "it was found on comparison, that of sets cut from large and small tubers, that the produce in favor of the large was eighty-four to sixty-four." It is now universally allowed by all conversant on this subject, that large sets make a more productive return than small ones, and large whole potatoes than small entire ones. When potatoes are cut for seed, great care should be exercised in selecting good and sound tubers. All frosted, partially rotted, mouldy, heated, and those injured in lifting, should be laid aside as useless. In all these cases the juices are either absorbed or vitiated, and consequently a stunted growth, if they grow at all, is induced, not only to the diminution of the increase, but too often to the entire failure of the crop. The most scrupulous care should therefore be exercised from first to last in preserving the juice of the tubers appropriated for seed. Inattention to this matter is a master evil, and one that has a greater tendency to induce and perpetuate the "taint" or disease than any other. Potato plants raised from heated tubers are affected with what is called the "white rot."

The first eye next the root, should be thrown aside as useless. The watery end of the potato produces earlier and better crops than cuts or sets taken from the root end. The reason of this is, that there is more moisture in the one end than in the other, consequently a greater energy is imparted to the growth, and hence an earlier crop.

It was the opinion of the late Sir John Sinclair, and also of several eminent agriculturists, that plucking the flowers from the potato ensures a greater weight of crop. This fact, if not generally known to farmers, is well understood by gardeners, who believe that the flowers draw more sap from the root of a plant than any other part. Numerous experiments have been made in Scotland, some of them under the auspices of the "Highland Agricultural Society," on this interesting subject, from which it appears that in seasons when their flowers are plentiful, an increase of one-sixth on the crop may be effected by plucking them off;