IS 15.] Manufacture of Farina from Potatoes. 335 



The expense of carriage is an insurmountable bar to the pursuit of 

 agriculture. But let us now consider the situation of a farmer 

 adopting this system. He chooses a remote part of the country, 

 where, perhaps, cultivation did not before exist. He takes the 

 land at probably one-fifth part of the rent which he would pay in 

 more frequented spots, and he either invites the manufacturer of 

 the farina to settle along with him, or he resolves to become a 

 manufacturer himself. The first year he begins by burning and 

 paring the surface of a part of his land, and by this preparation 

 ensures an abundant crop. He sows the next year barley or oats on 

 the land thus cleaned and prepared, which will serve as food for his 

 cattle, and for the large stock of hogs that, as a manufacturer of 

 farina, he must support; and he proceeds to bring a further part of 

 his land under cultivation by the same means. The potatoes are 

 manufactured on the farm ; and if he could afford to send the 

 potatoes seven miles to market in their original state, he can, with- 

 out disadvantage to himself, convey them 50 in their manufactured 

 state, as they are then reduced to about one-seventh or eighth part 

 of their bulk. His hogs supply him with such a considerable 

 quantity of manure, in addition to that of his farm-yard, as will 

 enable him to maintain a constant rotation of potatoe and light corn 

 crops. His expense in machinery is small ; and the waggon that 

 carries his flour to market brings back his coals, his groceries, and 

 his household requisites, without additional expense. It would be 

 necessary for him to have a considerable number of labourers, and 

 it would be his interest to attract them around him by allowing 

 them a small portion of land ; and by being himself the purchaser 

 of their superfluous produce, he would speedily raise a colony about 

 him ; and as the source which gave it life is connected with our 

 subsistence, and the just necessities of our nature coeval with our 

 wants, its prosperity must be ensured so long as we continue in 

 the disposition to supply them. In the general complaint of the 

 scarcity of farms, and the high rents which lands at present bear, 

 jK'rhaps no speculation ofters stronger inducements to the young 

 farmer, who can command a moderate capital, and who is contented 

 to forego some of the gratifications of a large society. If he pos- 

 sesses activity and enterprise, and has engaged his land upon the 

 favourable terms upon which it ought to be had at a distance from 

 market, his success in a iew years will be certain, provided the 

 system meets with support from the public. 



One of its many advantages consists in the incorruptibility of Uie 

 farina ; it is nut like the flour of wheat, liable to decay, but it may 

 be preserved for years sound and good, perhaps improved, but cer- 

 tainly uninjured by age. Thus our supply will be at all times ren- 

 dered more equal, and the year of abundance will more effectually 

 contribute to alleviate the year of scarcity : scarcities themselves are 

 likely to be of less frequent occurrence, as we should have the 

 advantage of two essential crops instead of one ; and the weather 



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