The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-11-25

Di"eh 1o" WIN opeH new Held Tor commercial
enterprise, of which, we doubt not, they will
early and proftaby avail themselves.
PoTAToEs. The discovery of America gave
to the civilized world, in the potato, an acqui-
stion of more Importance than the possession
of all her mines of silver and gold The ease
and facility with which this vegetable IS pro-
duced, the quantity which may be obtained on
comparatively small portion of land, and its
valuable properties as article of food both
for man and beast, are of so much Importance,
that the introduction of its culture may Justly
be considered as new era in the annals of do
nestle economy. 1t is to the potato that ire
land owes her rapid increase in population, and
that, it is which enables her, on territory less
than half the size of Virginia, to support seuen
millions of people, and annually to produce
considerable surplus of provisions for exporta-
ton. Wherever the potato is used as sub
sthute for bread, at least one half the expense
of that article of food is saved To increase its
use, and to make it as much as possible sub
stitute for other kinds of food must then, be
an object worthy Of more attention than it has,
hitherto, received We know of no means TO
do this, SO certain, as that of improving the
quality of potatoes, intended for the table, so
that they shall be preferred to other food Eve
ny person Of observation is aware of the fact,
that when he dimes at table where the pota-
toes arc dry and farinaceous, so that fork can
hardly be put into them without causing them
to fall in pieces, the bread lies neglected, and
much less meat is eaten in proportion. But,
| where the potatoes are wet and heavy, they,
in turn, are but sparingly eaten, while the
! bread and meat have to make up the deficiency.
Good potatoes are universally liked, and, if
every family was TO be at all times supplied
with them, we are satisfied, considering the
various modes in which they may be prepared
! for the table, at trifing expense, that they
would furnish much greater portion of the
sustenance of our population than they now
do, and that, thereby, considerable reduction
in the cost of living would be effected,
In cultivating potatoes for the table, although
the productiveness of the kind used is worthy
of consideration, yet it is of but secondary i'm
portance. IT. for instance, one kind yields IL
or 90 per cent. less than another, and yet is So
much better in quality, that twice the quantity
is used it is more profitable to raise them than
the others, because, every extra bushel that is
used, makes a saving of nearly its whole cost
in the value of other food for which it is substi
tutod.
More attention has recently been paid to the
improvement of the potato, and to the selection
of choice kinds, than heretofore, for which the
public are much indebted to the labors Of the
editor of the Nsp England Farmer. During
the present season many specimens of choice
varieties have been forwarded to him from dit
fcrent parts Of the country, and have been duly
noticed in the columns of the Farmer. From
the last number Of that valuable periodical we
make the following extract
Prime Potatoes The editor has received
from various quarters, samples of potatoes o
peculiar excellence, presented by the cultiva
tors of this valuable vegetable Among other
donations of this description, we have received
from valued friend in Worcester. a barrel O
potatoes, raised in Leicester, nhich are quit,
equdt TO any nee hare erer TASTED The barre
contained three sorts, viz, the Mercer Potato
the Btack Rusticoaf. and the Red eyed Potato
The gentleman, to whom we are obliged Col
this substantial token of friendship states, thai
60 the Mercer potato Yields very largely, per