620 Cultivation of A rable Land.—Potatoes.

land without manure, or where the manure has been previoufly incorporated with the foil, to draw the furrows or drills much fhallower than when the ma- nure is to be placed below them, otherwife injury may be done by the crop being put in to too great a depth*.

After-culture.—The proper management of the potatoe plant, after it begins to appear above the ground, is a point of great importance in its culture, as it is only by proper attention in this refpeét that full and abundant crops can be produced.

As it has been already feen that the roots of this fort of plant rife towards the furface while they are in a ftate of growth and forming their knobby bulbs under the ground, it muft be obvioufly of great advantage to have the mold ina loofe mellow condition frequently applied to them, as by fuch means the branch- ing out of the ftringy root-fhoots or wires is not only greatly promoted, but the diftenfion of the bulbs more perfe€tly fecured, as well as the diligence of the cultivator fully repayed by the increafe of produce. In order to effect thefe pur- pofes, it is the general praétice in the beft-cultivated potatoe diftri€ts to have re- courfe occafionally, during almoft the whole growth of the crop, to fuch means as pulverife, clean, and bring up the fine mold thus provided to the roots of the plants. Thefe are the harrow, the hand and the horfe hoe; by the former, the furface mold is rendered fine and powdery, while the latter is beneficial in bring- ing it up to the rows of the plants. In performing thefe operations, it is the pra€tice of a cultivator who has had much experience in raifing potatoe crops, to harrow the land over when the growths from the fets under the furface are advanced about an inch; which is only to be afcertained hy infpeiion, as the germination of the fets varies confiderably according to the circumftances under. which it takes place.‘The above period is fuppofed the moft proper, from the more advanced growth of the weeds rendering their extirpation more complete, as well as from there being danger of injuring the young fhoots by breaking them off when delayed much longer. This procefs is conveniently performed by a fmaii folding harrow invented by the writer, which is drawn along the in- tervals by a fingle horfe, in which operation it applies mold to the oppofite fides of two contiguous rows, deftroys the weeds, and pulverifes the foil, without the inconveii<> of levelling the ridges, which would not only eradicate and break off many of‘ic reots and fhoots, but prevent the advantage of their being kept dry. After this, when the potatoes are wholly up, the earth and weeds are to be removed from iiem by going as clofe as poflible with an ebb furrow, and laid

* Bath Papers.