28 POTATO CULTURE, 



but obliges us to prevent the germinating of the 

 grain by any means, I know no practice, as an 

 expedient, rather than a recommendation in all 

 cases, more prompt and efficacious than this. 



Two of our crops not being of universal culture 

 are entitled to a brief mention. We grow the 

 potato extensively in our fields, a root which must 

 be considered, after bread-corn and rice, the kind- 

 est vegetable gift of Providence to mankind. This 

 root forms the chief support L of our population as 

 their food, and affords them a healthful employ- 

 ment for three months in the year, during the 

 various stages of planting, hacking, hoeing, har- 

 vesting, Every labourer rents of the farmer some 

 portion of his land, to the amount of a rood or 

 more, for this culture, the profits of which enable 

 him frequently to build a cottage, and, with the 

 aid of a little bread, furnishes a regular, plentiful, 

 nutritious food for himself, his wife, and children 

 within, and his pig without doors ; and they all 

 grow fat and healthy upon this diet, and use has 

 rendered it essential to their being. The popula- 

 tion of England, Europe perhaps, would never 

 have been numerous as it is, without this vegetable ; 

 and if the human race continue increasing, the 

 cultivation of it may be extended to meet every 

 demand, which no other earthly product could 

 scarcely be found to admit of. The increase of 

 mankind throughout Europe, within the last 



