ct of Parliament to ascertain
the tithe of hops, now in the infancy of their great growing
improvement, flax, hemp, turnip-fields, grass-seeds, and dyeing roots or
herbs, of all mines, coals, minerals, commons to be taken in, etc.,
seems necessary towards the encouragement of them."[7] No mention of the
potato.

In the next year, 1724, this pamphleteer was answered by an anonymous
M.P., who mentions potatoes twice. Arguing against what he calls
"extravagant stocks," he says: "Formerly (even since Popery) it was
thought no ill policy to be well with the parson, but now the case is
quite altered, for if he gives him [_sic_] the least provocation, I'll
immediately stock one part of my land with bullocks and the other with
potatoes ... so farewell tithes."[8] The fact of potatoes not being
titheable at this period seems to have encouraged their cultivation. The
next passage goes to show that they were becoming the food of those who
could afford no better. Speaking of high rents, and what he calls
"canting of land" by landlords, he says: "Again, I saw the same farm, at
the expiration of the lease, canted over the improving tenant's head,
and set to another at a rack-rent, who, though coming in to the fine
improvements of his predecessor, (and himself no bad improver,) yet can
scarce afford his family butter to their potatoes, and is daily sinking
into arrears besides."[9] From the tone of this passage, and from the
context, the writer seems to regard the potato as food to be used only
by the very poorest; for he adduces its use to show to what a state
rack-renting can bring even an industrious farmer.

The burthen of all the pamphlets of this period dealing with the land
question, was an attack on landowners for their excessive desire to
throw land into grass. One published in 1727 has this passage: "By
running into the fancy of grazing after the manner of the Scythians,
they [the landowners] are every day depopulating the country."[10] In
another, printed in the same type, and apparently by the same hand, we
read: "To bestow the whole kingdom on beef and mutton, and thereby drive
out half the people, who should eat their share, and force the rest to
send sometimes as far as AEgypt for bread to eat with it, is a most
peculiar and distinguished piece of public economy of which I have no
comprehension."[11] At this time there was extreme want in the country,
on account, it was thought, of the great quantity of land which, wit