substituted. The acreage of potatoes now grown, 

 assisted as it is by surplus supplies from other countries, 

 yields more than are required by the population, except 

 in seasons when, from disease, frost, or drought, the 

 yield is seriously affected ; consequently, the profitable- 

 ness of the crop is not so marked as it was some few 

 years ago, and those who obtain high prices are those 

 who grow potatoes of superior quality. The develop- 

 ment of potato cultivation should be in the direction of 

 improvement of quality rather than in increased acreage. 

 In Ireland, where the country is farmed to a great extent 

 by small holders who do not possess much capital, and 

 who are not prepared to exert themselves very much on 

 their land, potatoes form a large portion of the arable- 

 land cropping, as a greater supply of food is obtained 

 from potatoes than can be raised by any other crop on 

 the same outlay of capital and energy. The acreage 

 amounts yearly to 717,000 acres, and during the past ten 

 or fifteen years this has been almost entirely devoted to 

 the Champion, though the folly of adhering to a worn- 

 out variety is shown very plainly by the fact that it has 

 become so subject to disease that, in any but the most 

 favourable seasons, a potato famine occurs, and a cry ol 

 distress is set up by the people at the loss of their 

 staple food. 



On the Continent large quantities are grown, the 

 surplus beyond those required for home consumption 

 being sent to England, and as water freight is so cheap 

 they reach the English markets more cheaply than many 

 grown in England. It is often urged that English 



