fu] 
ing; which divides the foil more minutely, and gives 
it the advantage of better pulverifation; and the 
greater abundance there is of leaf, the more nourifh- 
ment is extracted from the air and dews, which are 
thus made to co-operate more with the vegetable 
pafture in the foil, in bringing the plants to per- 
fection; and the thick foliage of the crop by its um- 
brageous fhade, has the fame ameliorating qualities 
with a heavy crop of peafe or beans, in deftroying 
weeds, retaining the dews, and preventing the 
drought from penetrating and exhautfting the foil. 
It is to be obferved, however, that too many, as 
well as too few, ftems are unfavourable to the preva- 
lence of fibres, and to the luxuriance of the leaves. 
Perhaps pieces about 20z. weight, are the moft pro- 
per for being planted, and whole potatoes from that 
weight to one ounce; thefe may be called large 
pieces, and {mall potatoes; and from them, it is pro- 
bable, there will iffue a fufficient number of {tems to 
produce as many roots as the immediately furround- 
‘ing earth can bring to perfeétion. To produce 
more, would make the roots fmall: to produce 
fewer, would give a lefs quantity of root from 
the acre. 
The roots procured from {mall whole potatoes, 
and from large pieces, both planted at 12 inches 
diftance in the row, were better fized than thofe 
from large whole potatoes; and the roots from plants 
at 12 inches were larger than from plants at 6. 
Large 
