CHAP. VII.] POTATOES. 295 



deration, more than equal to about 30lbs. of 

 flour, you may be of opinion, that the dispro 

 portion in the bulk of the crops is, in favour of 

 potatoes, more than sufficient to compensate 

 for this. I think this is already clearly enough 

 settled by the relative prices of the contending 

 commodities ; for, if the quantity of produce 

 was on the side of potatoes, their price would 

 be in proportion. 



282. I have heard of enormous crops of po 

 tatoes; as high, I believe, as 10 tons grow 

 upon an acre. 1 have heard of 14 sacks of 

 wheat upon an acre. I never saw above 10 

 grow upon an acre. The average crop of wheat 

 is about 24 bushels, in this part of England, 

 and the average crop of potatoes about 6 tons. 

 The weight of the wheat 1,440 Ibs. and that of 

 the potatoes 13,440 Ibs. Now, then, if I am 

 right in what has been said above, this bulk of 

 potatoes barely keeps place with that of the 

 wheat; for, if a bushel of wheat does not make 

 56 Ibs. of Jlour, it weighs 60 Ibs. and leaves 

 pollard and bran to make up the deficiency. 

 Then, as to the cost: the ground must be 

 equally good. The seed is equally expensive. 

 But the potatoes must be cultivated during 

 their growth. The expense of digging and 

 cartage and stowage is not less than 21. an acre ; 

 at present prices. The expense of reaping, 



