matters not, whether the soil be rich or poor, sandy or gravelly, nay it grows, without the aid of earth, in beds of straw or stable manure; thirdly, it grows either from the whole root, or pieces of it; some late experiments prove, that its increase is much greater from the whole root, than from small pieces cut in the usual way. It is also peculiar to this excellent root, to be alike agreeable to man and beast; it affords nourishment to the cow, the hog, the sheep, and even to poultry: it is particularly useful to milch cows; for this purpose, the potatoes should be previously boiled or steamed. Sometimes horses show an unwillingness to eat them, but this arises from ignorance; they will soon eat them, if confined for twenty-four hours without any other food; after having been induced once to taste them, they after eat them with as keen a relish as they do oats or beans. They are said to be preferable to both these grains for the common diet of horses, inasmuch as they afford a less stimulating aliment; the grain should be preferred, only when horses are worked at very hard labour, or on journies; in those cases, the potatoes do not afford an aliment sufficiently active and nutritious, to supply that waste of strength in a horse, which attends travelling, or drawing in a carriage, or plough. It is not to be forgotten, that the potatoe is in perfection all the year round, if properly preserved from the frost; whereas all other vegetables

ге

vegetables are in season but a few weeks. In order to preserve them during the winter, they should be deposited in pits, dug in the earth below the usual depth of the frost. By a chemical analysis, the potatoe is found to contain,

First, a dry powder resembling starch, which is contained in grain.

Secondly, a light fibrous matter, of a grey colour. Thirdly, a mucilaginous juice found in many plants.

Fourthly, water.

In a pound of potatoes there are generally four ounces of solid matter, and eleven and a half of water; in the solid matter there is generally a drachm of earth.

There are several ways of preparing potatoes for the use of man, such as simple roasting, or boiling them in a steam of water; they are also made into bread, with or without flour; also into biscuit, puddings, pies, and even coffee; besides these preparations, a yeast may be obtained from them, which is equal to the best fermentation in the world, for brewing beer, or making bread of any kind.

Having mentioned the culture of the potatoe, I propose next to take notice of its qualities in diet and medicine.

First, it has been found useful in medicine in those cases, where no other vegetable could be retained on the stomach.

Secondly,

Secondly, it has been found to promote sleep; of this there is a remarkable instance in the annals of medicine: a servant of the Baron de St. Hilaire, after a malignant fever, could not recover his sleep; his master ordered him to sup upon potatoes, and the ensuing night he slept six hours without interruption; the continuance of the same practice produced the same effect, without inducing any change in his constitution. The wholesome quality of the potatoe indeed is fully exemplified in the healthiness and population of those countries, where it is their only food. Dr. Adam Smyth, in his treatise on the wealth of nations, has computed, that a given space of land, in which the potatoe is cultivated, will maintain one-third more inhabitants, than the same portion of land appropriated to any other vegetable. Ireland is a striking proof of this calculation.

That celebrated island has been for many years. the officina gentium of the world; she furnishes soldiers and sailors to half the nations of Europe; she has nearly filled two-thirds of the most populous states in America with farmers, merchants, and mechanics; and whether it be the effect of the potatoe on the mind and body, I know not, but the natives of that island are all friends to liberty. Where is the legislature in the United States, where the claims of liberty have not been defended by Irishmen ? And where is the field of battle in America, that has.

not been enriched with Irish blood?

Nor are strength of body, and vigour of mind alone to be obtained from the potatoe; they confer upon the face that lovely white and red, which constitute beauty; hence the Irish complexion has been celebrated all over the world, and hence in Lancaster, where they are mostly used, the ladies have obtained, from the charms of their faces, the appellation of Lancashire witches. Farmers of Pensylvania, cultivate the potatoe!

Citizens of Philadelphia, eat, oh! eat plentifully of the potatoe ! Let them be the constant food of your children, instead of bread, at the intervals of their meals. Legislators of Pensylvania! encourage by suitable bounties the increase and exportation of the potatoe; let this precious root hereafter be blended with the wheat-sheaf in the arms of our state. Hail, highly favoured vegetable! Parent of health, strength, courage, and beauty of the human race! nay more, parent of the human race itself, may we always honour thee; still may we prefer thee to all other vegetables. Sweet root! kind root! I take thee to my bosom! Go people our western country; teach the nations to be temperate; go civilize the world!

CHAPTER

CHAPTER IX.

An Essay on the cultivation of Vegetable Crops.

To the Right Honourable and Honourable the Committee of the Farming Society of Ireland.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

You have expressed your wishes for Essays on the cultivation of vegetable crops, as substitutes for fallow, with which Irish agriculture is now so uselessly clogged; I have for some years been in the practice of the modes I shall submit, and though I till extensively, I do not find a fallow without a crop

necessary.

The crops I propose treating of, are,

Potatoes.

Cabbages, rape, borecole.

Turnips, rota-baga.

Carrots, parsnips.

Clover.

Vetches, grey peas.

Potatoes. After repeated experiments on the different modes of preparation, I can raise off an acre, with the plough, two hundred barrels, using but twenty-five stones of whole potatoes as seed, and

forty