378 AGRICULTURAL ?lUSEU%r. 



spread ulicn Arthur Yniinjy ^^rolc. About /JO year's 

 since or less, few potatoes were raised in this country,- 

 and bad. They were small, of a red colour, full of 

 eyes, and of a sharp disagreeable taste. They about 

 that time appeared in Ireland, but were soon dismissed ; 

 they Avere there called the New England potatoe. — 

 Other potatoes were introduced from Ireland to this 

 country. About 40 years since large white potatoes^ 

 swelling into large knobs, and extremely produc- 

 rive, were introduced 1 do not know from where. In 

 1770 1 procured half a bushel of them as a great favourj 

 and the produce was astonishing. Many planted large 

 quantities to feed cattle and hogs. 1 was its formed that 

 some farmers give thern to horses, but 1 do not know in 

 what manner, fn a few years, this kind dwindled ; 

 ihey gradually ceased io have knobs, became small and 

 "•^n productive, PvUd were neglected Other varieties have 

 succeeded with tliffcrL'Pi success ; endless vaiietics may 

 be produced Iroiii the potaloe apple: but I have not wit- 

 nessed much improveilient by that method in this coun- 

 try. 



That the most successful melh.od of improvinpr that 

 valuable root, is accomplished by transfiianting it fre- 

 quently from one climate to another, is, 1 tiiink, reduced 

 to a certainty. Changing soils in the same climate has 

 but little effect. I have trietl them on all varieties of 

 soils. I have on several trials, found that a high dry sto- 

 ny soil, produces the most agreeable potatoe for the ta- 

 ble, but in small quantity. I have had them good in rich 

 bottom land. Their goodness depends much on the sea- 

 sons. 



Several proofs might be given of the improvement by 

 change of climates. In every new settlement to the 

 westward they excel. Their goodness and produce has 

 been the boast, of the settlers ; but they gradually depre- 

 ciate. Tiie settiement of Westmoreland, where 1 no\i^ 

 live, commenced m 1708, when that root succeeded as- 

 tonishingly. 1 removed to it t'loizi Franklin county, near 



