I 82 AGRICULTURAL StTRVEY OF Chap. FI1, 



exposed to such scarcity, as was experienced be- 

 fore that time, and which sometimes bordered 

 upon famine. It may be said to constitute one- 

 third of the food of the common people for 

 eight months in the year. On every farm a 

 considerable quantity is planted for the tenant 

 and his. cottagers. And on the lands in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of the towns and villages, which 

 are very numerous in Fife, a still greater quan- 

 tity, in proportion, is raised. Such of the inha- 

 bitants as have no ground in their own posses- 

 sion, take pieces of land from the farmers in the 

 neighbourhood, when it can be got, and, at a 

 convenient distance, for planting potatoes, ma- 

 nuring it with ashes and street soil, or with 

 dung, when it can be procured. This practice 

 is not merely beneficial to the persons to whom 

 the land is thus let, but very advantageous to 

 the farmer himself. The land brings a good 

 rent, is let only for one year, and, being well 

 manured and cleaned, is properly prepared for a 

 succeeding crop. The quantity of land, annual- 

 ly in potatoes, cannot be under 6000 acres. 



ist, Preparation. Potatoes being usually cul- 

 tivated as a cleansing crop, they are introduced 

 immediately after white crops, such as wheat or 

 oats. This root seems to be fondest of an open 

 loose soil, such as gravel, sand, or light dry 

 loam. It may, however, be profitably cultivat- 

 ed on any kind of dry land> except a stiff clay. 

 The ground designed for potatoes, is commonly 

 ploughed about the beginning of winter, and as 

 completely loosened and pulverised as possible, 

 by repeated pkmghings, before they are planted. 

 The lazy-bed plan, which was formerly follow- 



