i 803.] Remarks ky the Cotidu3or, f 



one is decrepid for life ; while an oppofite treatment, produces 

 a hcahhy child, blooming as the rofe, chearful and lively as the 

 friiking lamb, Imiling and happy as the lily of the vallt-y. 



If this is the caufe of curl in potatoes, which 1 am convinced it 

 is, the remedy is obvious, *' Let them never be planted too ear- 

 ly." The laft week of April or the firft of May i;^ loon enough 

 in any I'cafon, and too foon if the feafon happens to be frofty and 

 cold. By this means they will efcape the chilling mornmg and 

 evening frofls They will be able to expand their tender fobage to 

 receive the benign intluence of the fun, and the dew of heaven, 

 -and they will thrive apace, and caufe the heart of man to iing for 

 joy at the bounty of the Great Creator. If, notwithilanding, 

 there ihould fometimes appear a few injured plants, mark them 

 with a itick, or any thing elie, till it be ieen whether or not the 

 encrcafing heat and moiiture will recover them ; and if they ftill 

 feem to continue dwarfilh, dig them up and cai> them away, as 

 incuiiiberers of the ground. They are unwholefome food, and 

 would infcdlibly pollute the fucceeding crop. 



As my name c\xn add noihing to your celebrity, I njuft content 

 myfelf with airuming a tictitious one j ai\d iliall therefore beg leave 

 to lubfcribe myfelf, Sir, your very humble feivan:, 



3. Sept: 1802. Agricola. 



Remarks on the above Letter, By the ConduElor, 



We are much obliged to Agricola for the above paper ; and 

 refpedlfully folicit a continuar.ee of his valuable correlpondence. 

 Reipe6ling the tendency of the Magazine, Agricola's ideas are 

 much in unifon with thofe entertained by the Conduftor. To 

 roufe the minds of agriculturills into adion, to excite a fpirit of 

 enquiry in the country, and to forward every den^n calculated 

 to promote its improvement, are more our objedb than to dif- 

 feminate inOrucftion. We ihail not, however, let flip any op- 

 portunity of conveying ufcful information, though we do not, 

 afliime the privilege of giving it in a didaclic manner. 



In the preceeding Numbers of the work, a deal of informa- 

 tion has been communicated concerning the culture of potatoes 

 — a branch of rural oeconomy highly deferving attention in 

 many points of view ; and various theories have ^ttu afiigned, 

 by our correfpondents, relative to the cauib of that baneful dif- 

 order, the curl, which llnce 1778 has dreadfully affecfled this 

 valuable efculent, in many quarters of Great Britain. However 

 ingenious fome of thefe theories may be, (and w^e believe that 

 t^ie praife of ingenuity is all that can be beftowed) it is obvious, 

 that we are completely in the dark refpedting the real caufe. 



The- 



