234 OF ESCULENTS. SECT. XV. 



The potatoe raifed from feed, changes the forts. 

 Some are denominated jnealiy, others waxy; i.e. are 

 either of a ioofe, or a firm contexture. They are dif- 

 tinguilhed again as to faape, into round, oval, and 

 c\ altered. 



Potatoes will grow in any foil, but bell in one that 

 18 light, yet cool and good, efpecially a freih one. 

 Seafon, as well as foif, makes a difference in their 

 goodnefs, as does the way of boiling them in eating, 

 on which the quality of the water has fome effect., as 

 indeed it' has on all vegetables, and that is the bed 

 water in which they are boiled quicken 1 . The white 

 potatoes are generally preferred, but fome of the red 

 kinds are very good; and the old rough red from Lan~ 

 caftiire, was one of the heft ever cultivated. The 

 kidney (oval) fliaped- forts are moft generally approved, 

 as boiling or roafting more equally through; and 

 among thefe, the red nofed kidney (a white potatoe with 

 a tinged eye) is a great favourite ; but many good forts 

 there are. 



The coarfe kinds of potatoes are given to hogs / but 

 whether even for them, quality ought not to be pre- 

 ferred to quantity, may be confidcred. The clujlcred 

 American potatoe is reckoned moft profitable for cattle, 

 yielding great increafe ; but the goodnefs of a potatoe 

 as food, is to be eftimated by the quantity of flour it 

 produces. The early potatoes are frnall, and by com- 

 mon culture are produced in June, when foon alter 

 their tops change yellow, which betokens maturity : 

 They will keep better in the ground (it being fummer) 

 than if taken up. 



The cultivation of potatoes is various, as experiment 

 and opinions have led : It would be too much here 

 to take particular notice of each method ; and to lay 

 every thing that might be advanced on this lubjett. 



Yorfets, or cuttings, prefer middle fized, well (haped 

 potatoes, and let each piece have one good eve in us 

 middle, ox at the moft two. They Ihoakl be let m 



rows, 



