OF THE COUNTY OF TYRONE. 33 



By following this fyftem it is very obvious, that the 

 quantity of food may be confiderably encreafed, though 

 not fo much land may be brought into cultivation in 

 the fame fpace of time. I am not, however, perfectly 

 clear, but more grain may be obtained, on account of 

 the good preparation the land will undergo, by taking 

 off two crops of potatoes, than in the ufual way of 

 taking only one crop. 



A country may be overftocked with barley, and it is 

 too frequently the cafe in this kingdom, the effects of 

 which are forely felt by the lower clafs, from the im- 

 moderate ufe of fpirits, when it becomes fo cheap, as to 

 be within the reach of every common labourer. But 

 the cafe is different with refpeft to potatoes ; there 

 cannot be too many of them. As- long as Britain re- 

 tains a navy, there will be a demand for pork. Pota- 

 toes are not only the food of man, but are alfo that 

 of horfes, cattle, pigs, and poultry; fheep, alfo, are 

 eafily taught to eat them. _ f 



One great advantage to farmers and labourers may 

 derive from having plenty of potatoes, as, in fpring, 

 milk and butter is always fcarce j beef and mutton, 

 at that feafon, are entirely out of the reach of the 

 lower order ; pickled pork may be had upon cheap 

 terms, when potatoes are plenty. A pig, killed at 

 Chriftmas, may go a great way in fpring, by pick- 

 ling part of it, inftead of making bacon of the whole, 

 as is ufually done. A pound of pork, in fpring, 



D will) 



