The Potato in Jcrsci/. 
129 
vation, for, in 1791, we find a quantity, said to be of superior 
quality, offered for sale at the rate of Is. for 40 lbs. weight. 
Quayle, in his book published in the year 1812, has the 
following notice on the potato in Jersey, which we reproduce, 
as the best existing account of those times ; and, moreover, 
because copies of the work are very scarce, and the work itself 
unknown to many. The writer says — " Though this root is 
comparatively of modern introduction, not having been admitted 
into ordinary field-culture till within thirty years, though it has had 
to struggle with the favourite parsnip, and does not agree with the 
application of the no less favourite article of improvement, sea- 
weed, in substance, yet the culture of potatoes is general and ex- 
tending ; their quality nowhere superior, and this is the only field 
product which is at present exported. No plant needs better tilth ; 
on land which has previously been a corn crop the great plough 
is constantly employed, on grass land the spade, by which it is 
trenched deeply. Stable-muck, which in this country it is not 
usual to turn or clump, is applied at the rate of 8 or 10 cart- 
loads, containing each about 20 or 2-1 Winchester bushels per 
verg^e.* Potatoes are always grown in drills, distant 1* to 2 
feet, generally 1 foot 4 inches. The sort preferred is called 
^ (jros-yeux,^ round, moderately sized, thin-skinned, white with a 
yellow cast. These have the valuable property of producing 
few potatoes of a small size. It has been observed in a good 
crop, that not a cabot of small potatoes were raised to a vergee. 
The planting is usually in April, the muck laid above the set. 
On this plant alone horse-hoeing or hand-hoeing is employed ; 
Aveeding between rows is also practised with the small fork. 
" The summer consumption of potatoes in the town being 
considerable, the tops of those raised at that period are given 
by some farmers to their cows as a regular article of food. In 
France also the practice seems not unusual. 
"In 1811 an experiment was made by Mr. Le Marquand, of 
St. Peter's parish, to grow on the same land two crops of potatoes 
in the year. An early species was planted in January, which 
succeeded. The crop being taken up and successively carried 
to market in July, the ground was again drilled, manured, and 
])]anted with the common species, which produced an average 
crop in quantity, in quality they were watery ; but no sets of a 
species fit for late planting were then to be procured. In 
these islands, where the frosts are not rigid in spring, or earlv 
in arriving in autumn, whilst there is a good market for the 
first raised potatoes, it is probable that this practice will be 
extended. 
Two and onc-(iuarter vergc'e;: ere exactly equal to one English acre. 
VOL. TI, — S. S. K 
