Cultivation of Arable Land.-*- Potatoes. Application of Crops of- 



This mode of preferving the ftibfianceof the potatoe may behighiy beneficial in many 

 initances, but particularly where it is neceffary to be kept a long time, and ufed in large 

 quantities, as it is fa id to be capable of being packed in one fixththefpace that would 

 be requifite under other circumftancesand to remain perfectly good many years.* 



It feems probable likewife that potatoes might be rendered capable of keeping 

 fvveet and good for a confiderable length of time without undergoing the above 

 procefs, by being cut in thin flices, and expofed to heat in a gradual manner in an 

 oven or upon a ftove or kiln until the whole of their moiftu re is expelled, and they 

 become perfectly dry, when they mould be inclofed in cafks or other vefTels, and 

 placed in dry fituations. 



And it is flared by a late practical writer, that this root may be kept perfectly 

 found for a long time, merely by fpreading them thinly on a dry rloor early in 

 the fpring, and carefully rubbing off the eyes or fprouts as they appear ;j~ but the 

 flavour of the potatoe appears to be confiderably altered as foon as the procefs of 

 germination takes, place, the whole fubftance being rendered more foft and fweet, 

 confequently lefs palatable. 



This root, joined with hay, flraw, chaff, and other fimilar matters, has been 

 found ufeful in many cafes, efpecially in the later winter months, as a food for 

 horfes and other forts of live ftock ; and with thefe fubftances, as well as in com 

 bination with other materials, as bean or barley meal and pollard, in the fattening 

 of neat cattle, fheep, and hogs : but as there is confiderable trouble and expence 

 in preparing them, it being found that they are much more fafe and nutritious for 

 fuch animals when fteamed or boiled, they do not appear to have paid greatly 

 \vhen employed in this way. They have been found to be greatly improved 

 by being fteamed in an apparatus for the purpofe defcribcd in the firfl part 

 of the work, and ftill more by being baked in proper ovens, as has been noticed 

 in the fame place. The refults of numerous trials detailed by different writers in the 

 Annals of Agriculture do not mew them to have been in this mode of application 

 worth more in general than from four penceto five pence the bufhel. When given 

 to horfes, it may be fortieth ing more, as there is more difficulty in afcertaining 

 the favings in other articles of fodder that are thereby made, and the advantages 

 that are gained by the animals. It has been flated to beabout ten pence the bufhel. 

 The moft general as well as the moft ufeful application of this fort of crop is in 

 that of human food, for which purpofe the roots are rendered mealy, nutritious, 

 and fit for undergoing the different proceffes of digeftion, by means of heat, either 

 in water or fteam, their acridjuices being in this way converted into mucilage, 

 and probably fomc portion of that into a fine farinaceous or ftarchy fubftance. 



* Commercial and Agricultural Magazine, vol. II. p, 256, 

 t Donal .fon s Modern Agriculture, vol. II. 

 Auuals of Agriculture, vol. XXJX. p. 62. 



