488 THE POTATO 



be possible to approach the earliness of the Chan- 

 nel Islands, but what can be done in Scotland may 

 assuredly be improved upon in Cork and Kerry, 

 subject to the same ameliorating influences in 

 even greater degree, 200 miles farther south, and 

 possessing ideal soil. 



"The east coast of Ireland does not enjoy so 

 mild a climate, but whatever is lacking in that 

 respect is compensated for by contiguity to mar- 

 kets and greater facilities for intensive farming. 



"Early potato growing has long been practised 

 in County Dublin, and at one time Scotch mar- 

 kets were largely supplied from there. Even now 

 it is perfectly wonderful what has been achieved at 

 Rush, by a race of shrewd and hardy men, whose 

 ceaseless and laborious industry deserves a better 

 reward. By the adoption of some of the new 

 methods for accelerating the crop they can in 

 some measure recover their lost supremacy, and 

 Ireland generally may to a very large extent par- 

 ticipate in the extremely profitable industry of 

 supplying England with early potatoes." 



