608 Cultivation of Arable Land.—Potatoes.

On the fea coafts, in the northern parts of the ifland, fea-weed is faid to have been found ufeful in the growth of the potatoe*,

Whatever fort of manure may be made ufe of in the growth of potatoes, it is neceflary that the quantity be fully fufficient for the purpofe of providing not only a fuitable bed for the eftablifhment of the roots of the plants, but alfo for affording a due fupply of nourifhment during the whole time of their growth, as upon thefe circumftances the fuccefs of the crop feems in a great meafure to depend.

After a very full and extenfive experience in the cultivation of this vegeta- ble, an able and intelligent agricultor advifes, that not lefs than twenty cart- loads, of thirty bufhels each, fhould be applied, as the richer the. ground the more abundant the crop; and that, however ftrong the foil may be, the farmer fhould not depend upon it to the exclufion of manure t.

Where the fets are put in in the drill method, the manure fhould be depofited as evenly as poffible at the bottoms of them; and in the other modes it mutt conftantly be fpread out in a regular manner, in order that the crops may be brought forward with as much uniformity as poffible. In raifing crops of the early kinds of potatoes, it may be a more advantageous prattice to apply the manure for the previous crop; as where the contrary is the cafe, the haulm or ftems of the plants are apt to become too luxuriant, and thereby prevent the roots from acquiring a proper fize. Befides, it is probable that the flavour of the potatoe may be better, and the fubftance lefs watery.

Time of planting.—The putting of this fort of crop into the ground fhould always be performed in the early{pring months, as foon as poflible after the danger of froft is over, which, in the more fouthern diftricts, is generally from about the middle of March till the latter end of April; and, in the northern ones, it is moftly from about the middle of April until towards the clofe of May, according to the differences in the ftate of the climate. The earlier the crop can be got into the ground, the better it becomes, as the potatoes are faid to turn out more mealy, and of a finer flavour. Befides, they have a bet- ter chance of being taken up and removed from the land, while the feafon is dry; and there is lefs rifk of injury from moifture and frofts after they are fit for taking up. It may alfo be added, that the land will derive much advantage from being ploughed up while it is in a dry condition, after the potatoes have been removed, as in this way it is preferved in a lefs moift ftate during the win-

* Englith Encyclopaedia, art. Hufbandry; and Bath Papers.+ Billingfly, in Bath Papers, vol. VI.