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produce of the small early potato exceeded very considerably that of the large one above mentioned; being per acre 665 bushels of 82 pounds. It is usually calculated by farmers that eighty pounds of potatoes, though eaten raw, after they have begun to germinate, will afford two pounds of pork; and I doubt much if the haulm, and the whole of the manure made by the hogs, were restored to the ground, whether it would be in any degree impoverished. I am not satisfied that it would not be enriched,—an important subject for consideration in a country of which the produce is at present unequal to support its inhabitants, and which produce is, I confidently believe and fear, growing gradually less, whilst the number of its inhabitants is rapidly increasing."
"ON THE POTATO.
[Read before the Horticultural Society, February 1st, 1831.]
If the potato could only be employed, as it has chiefly been, to afford vegetable food to mankind, its improvement would be an exceedingly important object; for, circumstanced as this country is, it must necessarily constitute a large part of the food of the poorer classes; and it is consumed in large quantities at the tables of the affluent and luxurious. But I am convinced, by the evidence of experiments which I have been some years in making, that the potato plant, under proper management, is capable of causing to be brought to market a much greater weight of vegetable food, from any given extent of ground, than any other plant which we possess, with equal profit to the farmer. The Swedish turnip may, in certain seasons and when the soil is favourable, rival, and perhaps excel it; but a total failure of crops of that plant is an event of no unfrequent occurrence, and partial failures occur in almost every season; whilst by proper culture, and selection of varieties which vegetate and acquire maturity in successive parts of summer and autumn, there is not any crop which I conceive to be so certain as that of potatoes; and it has the advantage of being generally most abundant, when the crops of wheat are defective: that is, in wet seasons.[1] And, I think, I shall be able to
- ↑ Failures of crops of potatoes occur in Ireland, because the excessive poverty of the peasantry compels them to plant their ground generally with less than one-fifth of the proper quantity of potatoes; and all the Irish varieties which I have seen have been unproductive, though generally of exceedingly good quality; the Irish mode of culture is also, I have reason to believe, excessively bad.
