Ch. XLV.J SPADE HUSBANDRY. 571 



This may prove a valuable hint to the present Guardians of the actual 

 poor-house system ; for the parishes being now cemented into Unions, and 

 tlie Guardians having power under a late Act of Parliament to take up 

 land for cultivation, the in-door paupers maybe very beneficially employed, 

 under the superintendence of an intelligent overseer, in the culture of crops, 

 which would repay a portion of their maintenance, besides adding to their 

 comforts, and affording a healthful occupation to the younger brancties, in- 

 stead of allowing them to waste their time in unprofitable idleness. 



In addition to this, we beg leave to mention a plan which has for several 

 years been pursued by that intelligent agriculturist, M. Pictet, of Geneva, 

 who allows one rotation of his crops — consisting of potatoes — to be culti- 

 vated by his labourers on joint account ; he finding rent, seed, and manure, 

 and they labour. The ground is cultivated by the spade, and being brought 

 into the most perfect state of tilth by being deeply worked and kept com- 

 pletely clear of weeds by constant hoeing, the culture acts like a complete 

 summer fallow, and requires nothing more for the succeeding wheat than 

 merely to have the seed harrowed and rolled in, without any ploughino- 

 whatever. The crops of potatoes, although grown upon a poor soil, have 

 always been so large as amply to repay M. Pictet with profit; in addition to 

 which he has the inappreciable satisfaction of thus securing the grateful 

 attachment of his dependants*. 



Were this plan to be carried more widely into execution, it would aid 

 materially in providing a constant abundance of food in the most trying 

 seasons ; for it is a singular fact, that when unfavourable to wheat, they are 

 beneficial to potatoes. It would also ensure a most gratifying mode of 

 cultivation on the part of the labourer, as he would then look forward to 

 remuneration in proportion to his own exertions as a partner in the produc- 

 tion of the future crop. Instead, therefore, of working heartlessly as a 

 day-labourer, solely with a view to get through it with as little trouble as 

 possible to himself; or, if at task-work, with an intention to slur it over in 

 any manner which may impose upon his employer, both he and his family 

 would then occupy themselves at every leisure moment in hoeing, weeding, 

 and attending to the crop, in the certainty that their toil would be well 

 repaid, and habits of real industry would thus be gradually engendered ; 



potatoes. It consists of a short pole, sharpened at the lower end, which answers the 

 same purpose as a garden setting-stick ; but, to increase the power, a cross piece is in- 

 serted at a convenient distance iVum the point to receive the foot. When forced into 

 the ground, it is turned round to enlarge the hole, and the cutting is dropped by any 

 child employed for that purpose : a few strokes of the stiveen covers the cut with earth, 

 and as the cross piece regulates the depth, the planting is effected with considerable 

 exactness." — Weld's Survey of Roscommon, p. 659. 



* Pictet: " Quelques details sur la consomraation de la Luzerne en vert, et tableau 

 d'un assolement de douze ans." p. 68. 



The labourers work together in line, in the same manner as customary in digging 

 fields in most parts of Biscay and Guipuscoa in the North of Spain, where turnip and 

 potato crops are commonly cultivated by the spade. Both men and women there join 

 in the labour, each furnished with a stout three-pionged fork, having blades of about 

 14 inches long, with a cross piece to receive the foot, like the Irish loy ; and, as they 

 make the stroke simultaneously and at equal depth, the work is carried on with extra- 

 ordinary precision. 



In countries where the spade husbandry prevails, it is usual for people to exchange 

 labour reciprocally, and to unite in considerable numbers in the fields of individuals in 

 rotation, more especially for the purpose of planting or digging out potatoes. " Tims in 

 Ireland, these congregations of workmen give vivacity to the labour, and are ordinarily 

 scenes of much cheerfulness." — Weld's Iloscoinmon,_p. 660. 



