Cultivation of Arable Land.—Potatoes. 621
into the middle of the intervals by a{mall plough with a very narrow earth- board. This is to be performed exa€tly under the above circumftances; as, when done earlier, there may be inconvenience from thofe plants that are not fully up being deftroyed, and, when delayed much longer, there will not be an equal degree of benefit derived from the operation. It is likewife recom- mended that, in a few days after the firft hoeing, the fame implement be paffed in the fame-traGt to a greater depth. By thus ftirring the earth in the intervals that had been trampled down by weeders or other means, it is rendered free, and the weeds that had been removed completely covered; and after the weeds, thus covered up in the intervals, are fully decayed and converted into new vegetable food, the earth is returned to the plants with a double-earth-boarded plough, by pafling twice in the fame traét, and turning a flight furrow to each fide, the firft being made down hill where the field is uneven, a perfon following the plough to remove the earth from fuch plants as may have been covered in the rows by the procefs, as, when left in that manner, their growth is either wholly pre- vented or very much reftri&ted. And in places where the plants are left with- out having the mold applied round them, it is to be brought into contaé with them by means of the hand-hoe.
After the plants have advanced to the height of about fix inches, the earth is again laid up to them ftill higher by means of the double-earth-boarded plough, pafling twice in the lines of the former earthings, but ftill confiderably deeper than before. In this way the hoeing of the crop is completed*.
By this method of conftantly keeping freth mold applied to the ftems of the plants during the period of their growth, the produce has been found to be greatly increafed, as it affords a facility to the wires for extending themfelves in the loofe earth thus laid up, as well as contributes to the perfeét growth of the plants. It has been afcertained by different trials inftituted for the purpofe, that each feparate hoeing or earthing up of the plants is ufeful in promoting a freth fet of runners, and that the potatoes are produced in tiers, according as the different hoeings have been performed; and it has alfo been found, that where the fecond and third earthings have not been attended to, the produce has been confiderably diminifhed f.
In Lancafhire the potatoe crops are moftly kept free from weeds by means of the plough, by turning the earth in the intervals of the rows towards the young plants as foon as they prefent themfelves above the furface of the
* Campbell in Bath Papers, vol. IX.+ Farmet’s Magazine, vol. IIL. p. 145.