i8D4« On the Advantages of Potato Hujhandry, 19^ 



be applied with more efre6l, and longer throughout the feafon, 

 than is poflibie to be done amonglt drilled beans. 



It has been recommended as an antidote againft the impovcrifli* 

 ing tendency of potato crops, to pluck off the apples \ but, from 

 what has hitherto occurred to me, that precaution does not pro- 

 mife to have much elf^-dl:. Sundry kinds of potato bear no ap- 

 ples ; yet, when planted in the fame field with thofe which do, the 

 crops after either have appeared to be much on an equal footing* 

 Befides, it has been ufual, from the firit planting of potatoes in 

 the fields, to begin lifting them before the apple was well form- 

 ed ; and this ha3 been done to fo great an extent in many fields, 

 that a confiderable part of the whole crop is often taken up be- 

 fore the remainder arrive at full maturity, though the difference 

 in the after crop, where the potatoes had been early lifted, or 

 where they had been late, provided the grounds were ploughed 

 and fown at the fame tim*^, has never been remarkable. 



It is very obvious, that the potato culture can never be car- 

 ried to tiie fame extent, in general, as the culture of turnips i 

 yet there are many fituations where potatoes may be raifed with 

 as much profit as turnips, efpecially in wheat diftridls, even 

 though they cannot be difpofed of or fold. They may be con- 

 fumed by farm horfes, one feed a day being of great benefit, 

 and acknowledged to be fo by all who have pra&ifed it ; by 

 young horfes ; or by milk cows and other cattle after March, 

 when no other green feed can be got for months. For any of 

 thefe purpofes, one acre of the white yam potato, properly cul- 

 tivated, will produce more fubfiftence than three or four acres 

 will do in grain, and with a greater certainty of a good after- 

 crop, efpecially if for wheat, than if the grotmd had been tur- 

 nip. I have never obferved that crops of turnip were more fer- 

 tilizing than crops of potato, nor that crops of wheat, in gene- 

 ral, are fo abundant after the former as the latter. 



It has long been my opinion, that an acre or two of the yani 

 potato, with a few green kail, either of which, On bleak foils, 

 will afford more aliment than is to be got from any other crop, 

 would be a great acquifition in high, late diflri^ls, for young 

 cattle and milk cov/s, in the end of the feafon after the turnip 

 is over, when, except a little verdure by the fide of a brook, not 

 a green blade is, in many years, tabe had for two months ; and 

 afterward, where thefe grew, if properly fown with grafs feeds, 

 an earlier grafs, and a clofer fward, will be produced than can 

 be got when grafs feed is fown without taking a fummer wrought 

 crop, or a complete fallow. It is clear and obvious, from wliat 

 occurs daily, that one young beaft, properly attended to, is 



N 2 worth 



