I 42] round cloſe to the heap; the earth out of which is beaten cloſe and tight upon the ſtraw, which mates it in general impenetrable to froſt or wet().

In the Ifle of Man, ridged in heaps in the field; covered with ſtraw, Packed cloſe fix inches thick; then earthed from one totwo feet thick, the

grats fide of the ſod outwards, beat well with the back of a ſpade. Effe Ctual againſt froſt or rain(e).

Oiher Authorilies.

Mr. Turner, ot Suffolk, tried a large wine vault; but too warm: they ſprouted.—

General Murray, in Suſſex, digs holes in the ſide of a hill, ſix yards wide, ten feet deep, and of an indeterminate length; carts from the field unload at top, and they are taken out at that end at bottom, Which opens to the flope of the hill, where a wall is built with a door. When full, a ſtack of ſtubble or ſtraw is built over the hole, wide and large enough for ſecurity againſt all froſts. In this manner the effluvia of the roots, riſing through the ſtubble, does not occafion their rotting from heat 73).. 4

1 Billingſley digs a trench eight inches deep and four feet broad; a thin layer of ſtraw at bottom and fides; piles the potatoes in a roof form, four feet high; covers them with ſtraw ſix or eight inches thick; then earth a foot thick, and thatches over all. Keeps well in the ſevereſt froſts h).

In the Midland Counties they preſerve them in ridges, and find that theſe ſhould not be more than four feet wide of Potatoes. Some coal-aſhes ſifted over the mould, in finiſhing, preſerves them the better from the froſt(i).

OBSERVATION.

It is now very generally underſtood, that ridging is of theſe the beſt method, unleſs in certain caſes, where the ſlope of a hill is ſo well ſituated, and the ſoil ſo dry, as to make the Suſſex mode preferable.

(A) North Riding, p. 44:(2) Iſle of Man. p. 36. G) Annals, vol. 1. p. 150. (½) Annals, vol. 2. p, 284.() Vol. 21. p. 6. (i) Marihal, Midland Counties, vol, z. p. 25 ¼.