102 
The Farming of Cheshire. 
them passes through a flue parallel with the chimney, and escapes 
without finding its way into the dairy. 
Potatoes. 
Although large quantities of potatoes, both of the early and the 
winter kinds, are grown in the county, I believe it will be found 
that they have not been on the increase for some years. Many 
farmers now grow Swedish turnips for their cattle ; and some 
gentlemen have an objection to many potatoes being planted on 
their estates. In the northern and western districts, and some 
parts of the interior, where there is water-carriage within a rea- 
sonable distance, extensive crops are grown for the supply of the 
Manchester and Liverpool markets ; and some from the southern 
side are sent to Wolverhampton. Among the early sorts, those 
most deserving of notice are the foxes-seedlings, and ash-leaved 
kidneys ; there is also a new kind, called Radicals, which are 
about a fortnight later than the rest, but are much liked on ac- 
count of their productiveness; and, by taking a little pains with 
the sets previously to planting, they are frequently brought into 
the market as soon as the others. The plan is as follows : — 
" At the latter end of January, or in February, the sets are placed close 
together, with the sprout upwards, on shelves in a building with a southern 
aspect, or on boards, each resting one above the other, on three bricks 
placed on edge : sacks are suspended in front to keep them warm. About 
a fortnight before planting, which is early in March, the sacks are re- 
moved, with the view of hardening them ; they are then cut into two or 
three sets, taking care to leave only one sprout, and are placed in the 
ground, which has been well manured. When this method is adopted, 
they can be brought into the market very early ; and the ground is again 
planted with the same kind of potatoes for seed the following year, or 
Swedish turnips. Among the best varieties of winter potatoes are the red 
apple, Scotch ink-eyes, new ink-eyes (much liked in the Manchester mar- 
ket), short wertzle or short tops, Irish cups, bread-fruit, and blue farmers ; 
the latter an inferior kind, but good croppers, cultivated principally for 
cattle, and have of late years been used by bread-bakers on account of 
their whiteness." 
Swedish Turnips. 
One of the greatest improvements which have taken place in 
Cheshire since 1 808 is the more extended cultivation of the 
Swedish turnip ; and it has only been within the last ten or fifteen 
years that its value has been adequately appreciated. In the year 
1814 there were not 5 acres of Swedish turnips grown in the pa- 
rish where I reside ; 7ww there are from 60 to 80 ; and in many 
parts of the county the increase has been in a much greater ratio ; 
on two farms,* in the holding of one person, in the Hundred of 
• From 900 to 1000 acres. 
A correspondent from the Hundred of Eddisbury says, "When I com- 
menced growing turnips, ten years ago, there was scarcely one farmer in 
ten who cultivated sivedcs for his stock ; but now nearly all my neighbours 
grow them to a greater or less extent." 
