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In some respects it seems an improvement, as it keeps much longer, and it rises and becomes very light and agreeable when toasted. Upon the second question, I shall be able to show satisfactorily that the flour of potatoes can be produced at a cheaper price than the flour of wheat. All objection, therefore, to its use in bread, is not only removed, but I conceive the most important advantages will flow from its adoption. In the specimens before you one-fifth of the farina is the smallest proportion made use of, and two-thirds of farina and boiled potatoes together, when in bread, the largest ; calculating, however, that no greater proportion than one-fifth should be generally introduced, the saving of wheaten flour alone, from that circumstance, would be immense. The population of Great Britain consists, according to the latest returns, of upwards of twelve millions and a half, and of this number it may be conjectured that about ten millions consume wheaten bread. Each individual's consumption has been considered equal to a quarter of wheat per annum. The introduction of potatoe flour, therefore, generally, would produce a saving of two millions of quarters of wheat per annum; and instead of being, as we now are, an importing nation, we should, after supplying our present deficiency, have a surplus of about 1,500,000 quarters for exportation, which, at the present permitted export price, under 54s. per quarter, would be equal in value to four millions sterling! That this surplus would not be obtained without some sacrifice of other crops, I am ready to admit; but when the increased productiveness of the potatoe is considered, when it is calculated that large tracts of land may be cultivated upon this system that would not be cultivated upon any ́ other, and that the plan may be generally adopted, which prevails universally in Ireland, and has the recommendation of distinguished agriculturists in this country, of making the potatoe crop precede the crop of wheat, the sacrifices would upon the whole be few, and the advantages immense. I know that objections exist from the scarcity of manure, &c. but I am satisfied that many of them would yield in practice. The poor Irish contrive to manure the land, and to produce crops that serve to form the winter supply of the city of Dublin, in situations distant from cities, and where artificial manure is not to be had; lime, sand, or sea-weed, are all excellent, and are in many places easily procured; the burning of the surface in rough uncultivated land is almost sure to produce a large crop, and is generally one of the first, as it is found one of the best preparatives to cultivation. The manure from hogs has been stated to afford very great returns; and as it is almost essential to the economical pursuit of the business of manufacturing the potatoes into flour that many hogs should be kept, for the purpose of consuming the skins, refuse, &c. it is a manure that would be abundant in those places where the manufacture was introduced. Perhaps no situations would so strongly feel the benefit of this system as those which are remote from sea-ports, and distant from water-carriage. The ground is now necessarily employed in pasture, or it remains waste.

The expense of carriage is an insurmountable bar to the pursuit of agriculture. But let us now consider the situation of a farmer adopting this system. He chooses a remote part of the country, where, perhaps, cultivation did not before exist. He takes the land at probably one-fifth part of the rent which he would pay in more frequented spots, and he either invites the manufacturer of the farina to settle along with him, or he resolves to become a manufacturer himself. The first year he begins by burning and paring the surface of a part of his land, and by this preparation ensures an abundant crop. He sows the next year barley or oats on the land thus cleaned and prepared, which will serve as food for his cattle, and for the large stock of hogs that, as a manufacturer of farina, he must support; and he proceeds to bring a further part of his land under cultivation by the same means. The potatoes are manufactured on the farm; and if he could afford to send the potatoes seven miles to market in their original state, he can, without disadvantage to himself, convey them 50 in their manufactured state, as they are then reduced to about one-seventh or eighth part of their bulk. His hogs supply him with such a considerable quantity of manure, in addition to that of his farm-yard, as will enable him to maintain a constant rotation of potatoe and light corn crops. His expense in machinery is small; and the waggon that carries his flour to market brings back his coals, his groceries, and his household requisites, without additional expense. It would be necessary for him to have a considerable number of labourers, and it would be his interest to attract them around him by allowing them a small portion of land; and by being himself the purchaser of their superfluous produce, he would speedily raise a colony about him; and as the source which gave it life is connected with our subsistence, and the just necessities of our nature coeval with our wants, its prosperity must be ensured so long as we continue in the disposition to supply them. In the general complaint of the scarcity of farms, and the high rents which lands at present bear, perhaps no speculation offers stronger inducements to the young farmer, who can command a moderate capital, and who is contented to forego some of the gratifications of a large society. If he possesses activity and enterprise, and has engaged his land upon the favourable terms upon which it ought to be had at a distance from market, his success in a few years will be certain, provided the system meets with support from the public.

One of its many advantages consists in the incorruptibility of the farina; it is not like the flour of wheat, liable to decay, but it may be preserved for years sound and good, perhaps improved, but cer tainly uninjured by age. Thus our supply will be at all times rendered more equal, and the year of abundance will more effectually contribute to alleviate the year of scarcity: scarcities themselves are likely to be of less frequent occurrence, as we should have the advantage of two essential crops instead of one; and the weather

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injurious to wheat is not unfrequently favourable to the crop of potatoes, and vice versâ. I must also observe that the farina forms an excellent ingredient in sea biscuit, in the proportions of two parts of farina to three of wheaten flour, or even of three parts farina to four of wheaten flour. A composition of this sort is more likely to resist the effects of climate, from the incorruptible property already mentioned, than if the biscuits were wholly made of wheaten flour.

Such are some of the more leading advantages likely to be produced by the proposed introduction of the flour of potatoes into bread, and the change of system to which it would give rise. We are now, perhaps, on the eve of another alteration in the Corn Laws, calculated to render the present high prices perpetual. A Committee is sitting upon them, composed of men of landed property; and I have heard that it is in contemplation to prevent the importation of foreign wheat when the price of British wheat is under 96s. per quarter. This, then, is peculiarly the moment to introduce an alteration in the system, which would render such a measure unnecessary, and which, instead of perpetuating high prices, would produce amongst us all the blessings of plenty. They may be summed up in these words :-We shall have a greater regularity, and a certain reduction of price; an immense increase of consumable food; its more equal distribution through years of scarcity and years of plenty;

A consequent diminution of the poor's rates;

An increase of comforts to the poor, and to all classes of society, and a great accession to our resources in every branch of national wealth.

April 29, 1813.

EXPERIMENTS ON BREAD.

First Experiment.

J. WHATELY.

lb. oz.

1. 2 8 Flour

2. 2 0 Flour.

2. 1 8 Flour... 10 Farina

2 8

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3 63 Good bread.

540 10 2 11 3 The same.

151 0 77

03

0 10 3 4 3 Raw potatoe flavour.

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