90 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



mine was unhappily but too frequent before 

 the introduction of the potatoe-root,) it is 

 supposed that many persons would have 

 perished for want in the year 1783, had it 

 not been for this root. It should be ob- 

 served also, that potatoes afford food in June 

 and July whereas food from corn cannot be 

 obtained until a much later period. 



This palladium against famine was not 

 cultivated in Scotland until 1683. In 1728 

 Thomas Prentice, a day-labourer, first plant- 

 ed potatoes in open fields, in Kilsyth : the 

 success was such, that every farmer and cot- 

 tager followed his example. 



In Shropshire, Lord Clive found it an 

 excellent practice to permit the planting of 

 potatoes in his young plantations, the season 

 after the young trees are put into the ground. 

 The potatoes were continued for three years. 



Mr. Coke, of Holkham in Norfolk, per- 

 mitted the poor to plant potatoes in his 

 young plantations, and found the cultivation 

 beneficial to the trees. In all cases where 

 the benefit to the planter, and to the poor, 

 seems to be so reciprocal as in this practice, 

 it is much to be wished that the same sys- 

 tem may be adopted. Mr. Abdy, of Essex, 

 grubbed a wood, and planted potatoes, 



