They are such an extraordinary shape, potatoes--all bumps and warts and hollows.

We worked steadily for five-and-twenty minutes, and did four potatoes.

Then we struck.

We said we should require the rest of the evening for scraping ourselves.
I never saw such a thing as potato-scraping for making a fellow in a mess.

It seemed difficult to believe that the potato-scrapings in which Harris and I stood, half smothered, could have come off four potatoes.
It shows you what can be done with economy and care.
George said it was absurd to have only four potatoes in an Irish stew, so we washed half-a-dozen or so more, and put them in without peeling.