\m Rewarks by the Ccfiducior. CFeb* 



The diforder feems to be one of thefe fecrets of nature, which, 

 like that of fmut upon wheat, threatens to remain long undif- 

 covered. We know for a certainty how to prevent both difor- 

 ders, and are to blame when the preventions are neglefted. 



Though we entertain a high opinion of potatoes, as food for 

 human beings, yet we are not clear that they can be raifcd with 

 advantage for the fupport of cattle, as ftated by our correfpon- 

 dent. This efculent is afluredly a fevere robber ; and, from the 

 degree of labour necefllary, proves a troublefome article, when 

 extenlively raifed. Another circumftance, and that very ma- 

 terial, is, that the planting feafbn interferes with the working of 

 the barley land, while the digging them up occurs at a critical 

 period of the year, when labour is fingularly precious. Befides, 

 potatoes are a moft unhandy commodity, and cannot bear a com- 

 parilbn with turnips, in feeding farm ftock. We are convinced 

 that it is eafier to raife thirty tons of turnips per acre than ten 

 tons of potatoes : therefore, in the arrangement of crops, a de- 

 cided preference ought to be given to turnips ; though, no doubt, 

 if any potatoes remain on hand at the end of fpring, they cannot 

 be more beneficially err.ploycd than by giving them to live ftock. 

 All that we mean to fay is, that it is an unprofitable trade to 

 grow potatoes intentionally for live ftock ; though certainly, when 

 other food runs fhort, or when a quantity remains unconfumed, 

 it is good management to ufe them in that manner. 



As a fubftitute for turnips at the latter end of ipring, potatoes 

 are of importance ; ftill we think ruta baga preferable, though 

 we confei!^, that the latter root is (hy of growing upon many foils. 

 But if potatoes are to be ufed regularly for cattie, betwixt the 

 turnip and grafs feafon, a certain extra-quantiiy rauft be annually 

 planted for that purpofe ; which leaves a market for the fuper- 

 iluity tbat attends a weighty crop to be as great a defiderattam as 

 ever. It was ftated in one of our former Numbers, that potatoes 

 muft either be very fcarce or very plentiful. Nearly the fame 

 breadth of ground hns been annually planted with this root for 

 feveral years paft. If the feafon is good, they have ufually turn- 

 ed out a drug to the grower : whereas, in late, cold, and wet fea- 

 jbns, the crop is fcaniy, yielding often three-fourths lefs of weight 

 than what is gained under more favourable circumftanccs. 



Without giving our opinion of the caufe of curl, aftigned by 

 our correfpondent, we decidedly coincide with him in reprobat- 

 ing early planting, which, in all our experience, was never fol- 

 lowed by a good crop. '^1 he time he condefcends upon for plant- 

 ing potatoes is early enough ; though it is not more than two 

 years fince the public were amufed with a moft ingenious and 

 plaufible fcheme for planting them fo early as the month of Feb- 

 ruary — a fcheme iuconfiderately adopted by a few well-meaning 

 people, to their great lofs and difad vantage. N. 



Tboug/?U 



