202 POTATOES. [PART i;. 



\vater in every pound of potatoes. How far 

 earth and straw may tend to fatten or strengthen 

 cunning Dick, I do not know; but, at any rate, 

 it is certain, that, while he is eating as much of 

 potatoe as is equal in nutriment to 1 Ib. of bread, 

 he must swallow about 14 oz. of water, earth, 

 straw, &c. for, down they must go altogether, 

 like the Parliament's bread in the years of 

 wisdom, 1800 and 1801. But, suppose every 

 pound of potatoes to bring into Dick's stomach 

 a 6th part in nutritious matter, including in 

 the gross pound all the dirt, eyes, peeling, and 

 other inevitable waste. Divide his gross 300 Ibs. 

 by G, and you will find him with 50 Ibs. of nu 

 tritious matter for the same sum that John has 

 laid out in 72 Ibs. of nutritious matter, besides 

 the price of 288 Ibs. of bread in a year, which 

 Dick lays out in extra fuel for the eternal boil 

 ings of his pot. Is it any wonder that his 

 cheeks are like two bits of loose leather, while 

 he is pot-bellied, and weak as a cat ? In order 

 to get half a pound of nutritious matter into 

 him, he must swallow about 50 ounces of 

 water, earth, and straw. Without ruminating 

 faculties how is he to bear this cramming? 



278. But, Dick's disadvantages do not stop 

 here. He must lay in his store at the beginning 

 of winter, or he must buy through the nose. 

 And, where is he to find stowage? He has no 



