CHAP. VII.] POTATOES. 



elusive of the etra labour, occasioned by the 

 cookery of potatoes, the fuel required, in a 

 year, for a bread diet, would cost, in any part 

 of the kingdom, more than would keep a family, 

 even in baker's bread for 41 days in the year, 

 at the rate of 71 Ibs. of bread a day. 



277. John, on the contrary, lies and sleeps 

 on Sunday morning 'till about 7 o'clock. He 

 then gets a bit of bread and meat, or cheese, if 

 he has either. The mill gives him his bushel 

 of flour in a few minutes. His wife has baked 

 during the week. He has a pudding' on Sun 

 day, and another batch of bread, before the 

 next Sunday. The moment he is up, he is off 

 to his stable, or the field, or the coppice. His 

 breakfast and luncheon are in his bag. In spite 

 of frost he finds them safe and sound. They 

 give him heart, and enable him to go through 

 the day. His 56 Ibs. of flour, with the aid of 

 2d. in yeast, bring him 72 Ibs. of bread ; while, 

 after the dirt and peelings and waste are de 

 ducted, it is very doubtful whether Dick's 

 300 Ibs. of potatoes bring 200 Ibs. of even this 

 watery diet to his lips. It is notorious, that in 

 a pound of clean potatoes there are 1 1 ounces 

 of water, half an ounce of earthy matter, an 

 ounce of fibrous and strawey stuff, and I know 

 not what besides. The water can do Dick no 

 good, but he must swallow these 11 ounces of 



