Potatoes on the new land are also planted with the hoe, and in hills of
about five thousand to the acre. A hole is scraped with the hoe, in
which four or five sets, or a whole potato is dropped. The earth is
then heaped over them in the form of a mole-hill, but somewhat larger.
After the plants have appeared above the surface, a little more mould
is drawn around them. Very large crops of potatoes are raised in this
manner. Two hundred and fifty bushels per acre are no uncommon crop. I
have assisted in raising double that quantity; but of late years, since
the disease has been prevalent, but poor crops have been realized.

Both white turnips and swedes do well, and grow to a large size,
particularly on new land: the roots must be either pitted or put in a
root-house, or cellar, as the winter is too severe for them to remain
unhoused.

The remainder of the fallow should be burnt off and logged up in July,
the rail-cuts split into quarters and drawn off to the site of the
fences, ready for splitting into rails. After the log-heaps are burnt,
you should either spread the ashes or rake them while hot into heaps,
if you intend to make potash,* with which, by the by, I should advise
the new-comer to have nothing to do until he has made himself
thoroughly acquainted with the process.

[* This article is very extensively made in nearly all the new
settlements, and may be considered one of the staples of the country.
The process is very simple; but great care must be taken in collecting
the ashes clear of sand or dirt of any description. If your ashes are
well saved and from good timber, ten acres should produce at least five
barrels of potash, each barrel containing five hundred weight. Several