"potato blows are as good as violets, as teh farmer thinks. This shows that some people like farmers who value the potato for the walth and food it grants them as much as violets which most common people like for its looks.

"Tide leaves some deposit on these pages as it leavs sand and shells on the shore." This talkes about how the tide when it comes in brings with it shells and sand and then leavs it on the beach. This writer was hoping that is gernal would be washed ashore (figurativly speaking) and be of some use.