STORING OF POTATOES. 205 



on to be the too easy and sole subsistence of mil- 

 lions, to perpetuate their generations in the misery 

 of physical weakness and moral degradation. 



Before this new malady occurred there appeared 

 a vast amount of human life thrown into abject 

 dependence on the thriving of a single root always 

 surpassing by their numbers the limits of its larg- 

 est supplies, and either learning the patience of 

 famine or being tempted to steal, and, under the 

 one engrossing care of maintaining existence, unable 

 to look higher for the consolations of a salutary 

 affliction or the hope that purifies heavenward aim; 

 and hence neither will piety nor patriotism com- 

 plain though no specific or effectual cure of this 

 malady should be found; for then it will appear that 

 in the very laws of vegetable production there is laid 

 a check to the worst of moral evils, as well as an 

 incentive to the virtues that adorn humanity and 

 prepare for a world to come. 1 



1 Whilst the author most humbly and gratefully confesses, that 

 the kindness of Providence, in the bountiful potato crop of last 

 summer, seems to have turned the above theory to foolishness ; 

 and whilst he sincerely hopes that the present and future years 

 will prove as favourable ; yet would he not rashly obliterate what 

 may serve as a memorial of past calamity may induce more 

 vigilance and precaution on the part of cultivators, and lead all to 

 a deeper feeling of dependence on Him who blesseth the springing 

 of the earth. And besides this good reason for preserving the 

 above record, the author is persuaded, that should his views hap- 

 pily never be realized, yet will some of the previous reflections be 

 found not only true in themselves, but conducive to the prosperity 

 of agriculture in the poorest countries, and to the best interests of 

 humanity. 



The author takes leave to add, which could not be known by 

 the date of the present Volume, that the theory to which the above 

 Note refers, was printed verbatim, in a former edition, at least ten 

 years ago, when there had been only slight indications of the po- 



