AMOUNT AND [Chap. 



does not make from the crop a deduction worthy 

 of notice. We all know, that, to get on an ave- 

 rage tiventy-eight bushels of wheat, we must sow 

 three bushels. Now, to get an acre of corn of 

 from fifty to a hunched bushels, there needs only 

 about six quarts of seed. We know, that, after 

 every harvest, the seed-market stops, in a great 

 degree, the supply of bread-ivheat, and that it 

 takes away the very best part of the crop of 

 wheat ; and we know, that there is such a fuss 

 about seed~v)heat, sending miles and miles for it; 

 and, indeed, the pains, though necessary, are 

 endless. In the case of corn, in a good large 

 pair of great-coat pockets a farmer may carry 

 seed for a corn-field home from his neighbour's 

 crib, if he take a fancy to that in preference to 

 his own. No man, after the third or fourth year 

 from this, will ever buy seed-corn ; such a thing 

 was never heard of in America, and it never will 

 be heard of here. 



170. But, if this plant be a valuable acquisi- 

 tion to the higher and middle ranks, what is it 

 to the labourer I He must and will have the 

 great benefit of it. It is out of nature, that he 

 should continue to plant and to eat potatoes ; to 

 suppose such a thing possible, would be to sup- 

 pose him as senseless, as destitute of reason, and 

 even more destitute than the beasts that perish. 

 In short, the th'.ng cannot be; and the introduc- 



