AND FARMING PRODUCE. 311 



during the winter months, out of the reach of 

 the frost ; or, by covering them in thin strata, 

 with sand or soil, in root houses. And, if such 

 convenience be not at hand, they may be put 

 down about five to ten inches in thickness, in an 

 orchard or garden, or corner of a field, or some 

 such similar places, and covered about a foot 

 deep with soil, so as no frost can reach them ; 

 or perhaps, better still left in the drills, and 

 covered over with soil, by running a plough 

 between the drills, as turnips are left and pre- 

 served during winter, in the southern parts of 

 France. 



We must not allow the physiological facts just 

 mentioned to pass over without drawing from 

 them certain deductions of much practical im- 

 portance. The first is, that the aliment which 

 most benefits us, is more concentrated beneath 

 the buds, and near the skins of the tubers, than 

 elsewhere. Peeling potatoes before they are 

 cooked, hence robs us of the best part of their 

 substance. No wonder that pigs, poultry, and 

 cattle thrive so well upon the peelings of potatoes, 

 when in the wantonness of our ignorance we 

 supply them so plentifully, as hitherto has been 

 done, with thick parings. If we mean to 



