OF ESCULENTS. 



SECT. XV. 



The pctatoe raifed from feed, changes the forts, 

 Some are denominated meally, others waxy; i.e. are 

 either of a loofe, or a firm contexture. They are dif- 

 tinguiftied again as to Jhape, into 'round, oval, and 

 cluliered. 



Potatoes will grow in any foil, but beft in one that 

 is light, yet cool and good, efpecially a frefh one. 

 Seafon, as well as foil, makes a difference in their 

 goodnefs, as does the way of boiling them in eating, 

 on .which the quality of the water has fome effeft, as 

 indeed it has on all vegetables, and that is the beft 

 water in which they are boiled quickeft. The white 

 potatoes are generally preferred, but fome of the red 

 kinds are very good; and the old rough red from Lan- 

 cajhire, was one of the beft ever cultivated. The 

 kidney (oval) fhaped forts are moft generally approved^ 

 as boiling or roafting more equally through ; and 

 among thefe, the red nojed kidney (a white potatoe with 

 a tinged eye) is a great favourite ; but many good forts 

 there are. 



The coarfe kinds of potatoes are given to hogs ; but 

 whether even for them, quality ought not to be pre- 

 ferred to quantity, may be confidered. The clujlered 

 American potatoe is reckoned moft profitable for cattle, 

 yielding great increafe ; but the goodnefs of a potatoe 

 as food, is to be eftimated by the quantity of flour it 

 produces. The early potatoes are final 1, and by com- 

 mon culture are produced in June, when foon after 

 their tops change yellow, whicft betokens maturity : 

 They will keep better in the ground (it being fummer) 

 than if taken up. 



The cultivation of potatoes is various, as experiment 

 and opinions have led : It would be too much here 

 to take particular notice of eacrr-method ; and to fay 

 every thing that might be advanced on this {'abject.. 

 . For fets, or cuttings, prefer middle fized, well fhaped 

 potatoes, and let each piece have one good eye m it's 

 middle, or, at the moft two. They fhould be fet in 



rows, 



