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SECTION X. 

 THE COST AND FEEDING VALUE OF THE CROP. 



The Cost of a Crop of Potatoes. 



The cost of producing a crop of potatoes varies very 

 much according to the circumstances under which it is 

 grown. Sometimes, as in the case of the lazy-bed 

 system, as carried out in the west of Ireland, the work 

 and expenses on the crop are small so is the yield. 

 The outlay is confined to the cost of digging once, 

 planting, covering, seed, manure, rent, and digging. 

 No cleaning is done, and the work, together with the 

 items mentioned, would be worth about <9 per acre. 

 The yield is small, and if disease appears a famine is 

 easily established. 



An almost equally careless manner of planting is 

 followed in some parts of England, the labour being 

 confined to ploughing in the potatoes when the land is 

 broken up, some little w^ork on the surface subsequently, 

 moulding-up and digging. Other methods are exten- 

 sions of this, with various alterations and additions. 

 The condition of the land with regard to its cleanli- 

 ness, fertility, and friability, regulate the amount of 

 work and manure necessary to devote to it. Therefore, 

 in estimating the cost of a crop, these must be borne in 

 mind. A calculation as to the probable cost of growing 



