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622 Cultivation of Arable Land.—Potatoes,

ground, and in a fhort time afterwards by turning it back again from each fide of them; and occafionally, when the land is very foul, by paffing a fmall tri- angular harrow between each of the rows. After the weeds have been re- moved in this way, the mold is again applied to the plants in the fame man- ner as before, or by means of a double-mold-boarded plough. In this way the crop is rendered clean, and the fine reduced mold well laid up to the ftems of the plants.

It is, however, the cuftom in fome diftri€ts, where the planting of this ufeful root is performed on the plain furface without ridges, to depend upon repeated harrowing during the early growth of the crop, for keeping the lands free from weeds as well as for earthing up the plants; but it is evident, that by this method the ground, efpecially when inclined to be moift, is not only rendered too flat, but little affiftance afforded from the{mall portion of mold that can be brought to the root ftems of the plants. Befides, thefe operations can only be continued for a fhort time during the early growth of the crop. As it is at- tended with lefs expence, it may, however, be practifed where the foil is light, thin, and liable to become too dry. But, in general, the more perfe&t and the longer the ftirring of the ground between the rows can be continued, provided the implement does not prefs too deep in the latter ones, the more vigorous and abundant the crops will be.

The earthing up of crops of potatoes by means of the plough has been ob-« jected to by fome cultivators, on the principle that it has a tendency to injure or deftroy the knotty wires of the plants that extend themfelves laterally; but this can feldom be the cafe when the plants are put in at proper diftances, and the operation carefully performed; but, in order to remove any danger in this way, the procefs may be well executed by means of a fort of cultivator termed a brake, which is much employed by the Kentifh farmers for this purpofe, as well as for cleaning and earthing up different forts of podded crops.

Mr. Billingfley, however, on the authority of much experience, advifes that the hoe be never made ufe of after the potatoe plants have begun to throw out their wires or ftrings, and form their bulbs; as, fhould weeds afterwards arife, they may be removed by means of hand-labour,

The expence of cultivating crops of this root, though it will vary much ac- cording to the nature and condition of the foil, the method of planting, and various other circumftances, yet, from the preparation and labour neceflary in bringing the ground into a fuitable ftate for the reception of the feed and in putting it in, it muft conftantly be high, It may in general be ftated to