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much ufed in thefe parts, and their Culture much 

 lefs underftood. I believe, I planted more than 

 all the other gardeners at that time in this ifland: 

 I fet of the fame fort of potatoes that I found on 

 the premifes from year to year, for five or fix years ; 

 but to my great lofs and furprife, I generally loft 

 half, and fometimes nearly all my crop, by their 

 being blighted, or infedied with what is called the 

 curled difeafe. 



I then changed my feed for fome which grew at 

 or near Torbay; the firft year they did very well. 

 I planted of the produce of this feed the next year, 

 and recommended the fame to fome of my friends 

 at Southampton, Winchefter, Hambledon, and Chi- 

 chefter, thinking it was very good ; but to our great 

 difappointment, we loft the greateft part of our 

 crops, although at fo confiderable a diftance, and 

 I believe very different foils : from whence I infer 

 the fault is not in the land, but in the feed. 



I was forced hereby to try a different method, 

 and foon after Chriftmas made a hot-bed in the 

 following manner: — (which method I have ufed 

 ever fince) I laid horfe-dung, &:c. (as is generally • 

 ufed in making hot-beds) about eighteen inches 

 thick, over which I fpread a layer of fine rich 

 mould about four or five inches thick; upon the 



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