[ Ivi J 



poflefs all the advantages they are capable of, (thofe of foil, 

 manure, and culture, which are common to all methods, 

 excepted,) None but the ftronger fhoots are employed; 

 they have the benefit of the parent flock, as long as it is ne- 

 ceffary; when planted they are unincumbered by neigh- 

 bouring fhoots, and their bulbs have an opportunity of 

 coming to their full natural fize and perfe(R:ion. 



The reafoning I have here adopted feems likewife to receive 

 fome confirmation from an obfervation I had very lately an 

 opportunity of reading in an effay prefented to this Society, 

 viz. The produclivenefs of potatoes does not appear to arife 

 fo much from the quantity or quality of the feed planted, 

 as from each plant havin? juft as many vigorous growths 

 (or flioots) as the furrounding foil is capable of bringing to 

 perfetStion. / «;«, Sir., your humble fervant^ 



Tivertotty Nov. 3, 1796. Tho. Broughton. 



To thofe who may be difpofed to try the method of plant- 

 ing by flioots, the following procefs is recommended: — 



As earlv in March as the feafon will permit, let a trench or trenches 

 be dug in a dry and flieltered fpot ; let a little litter be laid thinly in 

 the bottom, and the potatoes placed upon it, clofe to each other, but 

 only one in thicknefs; — the proportion will probably be from 10 to 12 

 facks per acre. Let fome litter be laid thinly over them, and a little 

 earth upon that. As foon as the potatoe (lioots are two or three 

 inches above ground, let a perfon raife them out of the trench with a 

 three-pronged fork, and another take off, clofe to the potatoes, fuch 

 (hoots as are Hroiig, and about fix inches in length. Thefc may be 

 either planted out with a fctting pin, or placed in the furrows after a 

 plough ; care being taken in both cafes that an inch or two of the 

 &oot be above ground. If planted in a field, the latter is the prefer- 

 able method; and they (liould then be placed in every other furrow, 

 and about nine inches diftant in the rows. 



Should there be reafoii to expecft that more (hoots may be wanted 

 than are fit to take off the fiift time, the Potatoes may be returned 

 into the trench, and they will produce an abundant crop of flioots for 

 a fccond planting. 



LETTERS 



