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That potatoes do not degenerate in point of pro- 

 lificacy, in confcquence of being long propagated in 

 the ufual way, feems to be confirmed by the general 

 experience of all Europe. It is now about a hun- 

 dred years fince the potatoe was pretty generally 

 cultivated in Ireland, and it has been very univer- 

 fally cultivated in Britain for fifty years pad, and 

 all that have been reared in it fince their firft in- 

 troduction two hundred years ago, a very few of 

 late only excepted, have been propagated from bulbs 

 only; fo that if they had declined in point of pro- 

 lificacy, the degeneracy fhould in this time have 

 been very apparent. Nothing of that kind how- 

 ever was ever remarked, nor any infinuation of that 

 fort thrown out, till the difcovery of rearing pota- 

 toes from feed was made, when it was for the firft: 

 time heard of. There are many perfons now living 

 who have been in the conftant practice of rearing 

 potatoes for thirty or forty years -, and notwithstand- 

 ing the general tendency that mankind have to dif- 

 praife the prelent, when compared with pafl times, 

 yet none of them have given the fmalleft hint of de- 

 generacy in this refpecl:. And I am perfuaded, 

 when it comes to be fully enquired into, it will be 

 found that this is merely a groundlefs notion, that 

 has originated from the partial fondnefs of thofe 

 who firft propagated this plant from [Gtd, in favour 

 of their new difcoverv. 



PAPER 



