[ $35} 
To the SECRETARY. 
Lawrence-Hill, near Bristol, 
SiR, December 6, 1798. 
it having been a prevalent opinion, that the po- 
tatoe produced from feed would require feveral 
years for raifing it to a ftate of maturity or perfection; 
and, from my own obfervation, having had reafon 
to think it might reach maturity within the firft 
year, I was, in the laft fpring, induced to try the 
experiment. 
I fhould have fown early in the month of April, 
had it been in my power to procure the feed; but 
it was with much difficulty I could get any, there 
being none in the Briftol feed-fhops; and by mere 
chance I got a fingle ounce at one of the London 
fhops. It was not, therefore, till the 19th of May 
that I was enabled to fow the feed, which was done 
in drills with two feet intervals. About a month 
afterwards, the plants were in a {tate to be removed 
from the feed-bed; they were accordingly tranf- 
planted inedrills, at the diftance of about feven inches 
from plant to plant, with three feet intervals. And 
this, I imagine, to be the moft eligible fcale for 
planting the potatoe in general, whether it be the 
feedling plants or fhoots from the bulbs. The 
earth in the intervals was drawn up from time to 
time to the plants, in proportion as they advanced in 
‘growth. About the beginning of September they 
feemed 
