TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 37 



between the produce of an acre of Po^a^oe* and an acre of Wheat 

 in England. The former he rates at only twelve thousand pounds 

 weight; the latter at two thousand, and allowing " half the 

 " weight of Potatoes, to go to water, (a very large allowance)," 

 he infers that " one acre of Potatoes producing 6000 weight of 

 " solid nourishment, is equal to three times the quantity pro- 

 " duced from an acre of Wheat." 



It is evident therefore, that the same train of argument applied 

 to this island, would make the annual produce of one acre of 

 Potatoes, in solid nourishment, equal to nine acres of Wheat in 

 England. 



From the peculiar advantages which St. Helena enjoys in the 

 extraordinary produce, as well as in the excellent quality of this 

 invaluable root, it is evident that the extensive culture of Potatoes, 

 is deserving the utmost attention, not merely as a food for man 

 but for cattle and live stock of all kinds. The imports of flour, 

 rice and paddy, and of salted meat, might thus be diminished, 

 the island might easily be made to abound with every necessary 

 of life, which is assuredly the best mode of depressing the present 

 exorbitant prices ; and the diminution of those wants which are 

 obtained from other countries, would no doubt, have the effect 

 of retaining, amongst the cultivators of the soil, a very great pro- 

 portion of the sums that are annually paid for foreign supplies. 



The annual consumption of flour is about 1600 barrels, which 

 would cost in England, including the barrels, according to the 

 invoice per Walmer Castle in 1807, ^8674. If freight and 

 charges be added at £5. per ton, and rating six barrels to a ton, 

 this would be 266 tons, or i:i330, making the total cost of 1600 

 barrels of flour, when landed here, ,£10,004. 



Now from what has been said, and following Doctor Adam 

 Smith's deductions, I will proceed to shew that an equal (quantity 



