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eighteen inches deep, and the ſame width betwcen each ridge, and ihrow- ing the earth upon the top. If this operation is performed before the winter commences, the trenches will carry off the water from the ridges, and render them quite dry in the ſpring, when a crop of early potatoes may be planted with ſafety; and the moſs that was thrown out of the trench being mellowed by the froſt, will crumble down and ſerve as manure. It is perfectly well aſcertained that excellent crops are raiſed in this way: indeed the Reports in Poſſeſſion of the Board contain many inſtances of it; and what adds to the value of theſe crops is, their being perfectly wholeſome and free from the curl, and thereby furnifhing a change of healthy ſeed for lands where that diſeaſe prevails.
To perfect this crop very frequent hoeings and plöoughings are neceſſary in the carly part of the ſeaſon, not only for the purpoſe of deſtroying the weeds, but for looſening the ſoil, and allowing the roots to ſpread, and the Poung potatoes to ſwell. Great care, however, fhould always be taken to have theſe operations over as early in the ſeaſon as pPoſfible, and the earth ploughed up to the roots before the dry weather ſets in, as nothing ſo ef- Lecpuall) ruins a potatoe-crop as expofing the roots to the action of the fun and air.
Where only one crop of potatoes is intended to be taken during the ſeaſon upon clay-lands, a conſiderable profit may ariſe from dropping a bean between every ſet of the potatoes: ſeveral bolls per acre may be ralſed in this way, without the leaft detriment to the potatoe, and without any expence except the ſmall quantity of ſeed.
Potatoes an excellent Crop For breaking up old Paſzures. This practice of planting potatoes upon the turf, on lays of one or two years old, is not con- fined ſolely to lands of that deſcription; it may be done with great advan- tage upon old paſtures when they are broke up. At preſent it is the cuſtom in many parts of England, to break up the beſt old paſtures by paring and burning: the reaſon given for this practice is, that the turf cannot bé ſuf- ficiently reduced without it. The general uſe of the practice of paring and burning is highly deſtructive to the ſoil, and inimical to permanent improvements.—
In place of this practice, we would recommend to break up the ground in the way we have mentioned; that is, by paring off the turf, and in- verting it with one plough, planting potatoes upon the turf thus inverted, and covering the ſets with another plough. In this way the turf would gradually rot, and, quring that proceſs, would afford nouriſhment to the crop, no part of its ufeful qualities would be loſt, and when the ſoil comes to be afterwards ploughed for corn-crops, this turf would be com- pletely reduced.


