SfCt. VII. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 187 



from later and colder soils, where the potatoe 

 has not attained its full maturity, seems to be 

 most generally approved of. And yet, if I may 

 be allowed to judge from my own experience, I 

 apprehend, that change of seed is not always ne- 

 cessary, either for preventing or curing this dis- 

 ease, or for preserving the quality and quantity 

 of the crop. About 14 years ago, when I came to 

 reside in this county, I purchased my seed pota- 

 toes from a cold backward farm. The second 

 year after they came into my possession, the curl 

 appeared, and a great number of the plants were 

 affected. Ignorant of the cause or cure of the 

 disorder, and under no apprehensions about the 

 consequences, I continued to plant the same, po- 

 tatoes, and have never to this day changed the 

 seed. The curl has never appeared among them 

 since. The crops continue equally abundant^s 

 at the first, and the quality, if there be any dif- 

 ference, is rather improved. I fcave sometimes 

 70 bolls from the acre, and never, under 50, ex- 

 cept in a very cold and wet season. The kind 

 is the Tartar, and the soil a mixture of gravel 

 and light loam, dry and tolerably deep. And 

 they are planted on the same ground only once 

 in six years. 



5//>, Harvest. Potatoes are generally taken 

 up in the month of October. Forks, provin- 

 cially called gropes or grapes, with three strong 

 broad prongs bent forwards a little towards the 

 points, and with shafts like the spade, are com- 

 monly used for this purpose. With this instru- 

 ment one person turns out the potatoes and 

 searches the ground, another gathers. Some- 

 times, when the crop is very abundant, cue rais- 

 A a 2 



