94 



On the Potatoe, 



adduce some strong facts in support of my opinion, that by a 

 greatly extended culture of the Potatoe, for the purpose of supplying 

 the markets with vegetable food, a more abundant and more whole- 

 some supply of food, for the use of the labouring classes of society 

 may be obtained than wheat can ever afford; and I believe of a 

 more palatable kind to the greater number of persons. I can just 

 recollect the time when the Potatoe was unknown to the peasantry 

 of Herefordshire, whose gardens were then almost exclusively oc- 

 cupied by different varieties of the cabbage. Their food at that 

 period chiefly consisted of bread and cheese, with the produce of 

 their gardens, and tea was unknown to them. About sixty-six 

 years ago, before the Potatoe was introduced into their gardens, 

 agues had been so exceedingly prevalent, that the periods in which 

 they, or their families, had been afflicted with that disorder, were 

 the eras to which I usually heard them refer in speaking of past 

 events ; and I recollect being cautioned by them frequently not to 

 stand exposed to the sun in May, lest 1 should get an ague. The 

 Potatoe was then cultivated in small quantities in the gardens of 

 gentlemen ; but it was not thought to afford wholesome nutriment, 

 and was supposed by many to possess deleterious qualities. The 

 prejudices of all parties, however, disappeared so rapidly that 

 within ten years the Potatoe had almost wholly driven the cabbage 

 from the garden of the cottagers. Within the same period, ague, 

 the previously prevalent disease of the country, disappeared ; and 

 no other species of disease became prevalent. I adduce this fact, 

 as evidence only, that the introduction of the Potatoe was not in- 

 jurious to the health of the peasantry at that period ; but whether 

 its production was, or was not, instrumental in causing the dis- 

 appearance of ague, I will not venture to give an opinion. I am, 

 however, confident, that neither draining the soil, (for that was not 

 done) nor any change in the general habits of the peasantry, had 

 taken place, to which their improved health could be attributed. 



