[ 3^^ ] 



Art. XXXV. 



On a new method of propagating Potatoes. 

 In a letter to Dr. Fothergill. 



[By the Rev. J. Barton.] 



jigricultura proxima fapientia. 

 Experimental Farming and found Philofophy are nearly 

 allied. 



Sir, 



I TAKE the liberty of fubmitting to your confidera- 

 tioa, as a vice-prefident of the Agriculture Society, 

 an experiment which I made lad fummer on the cuU 

 tivation of potatoes j and am the bolder in doing 

 this, becaufe if the experiment meet with your ap- 

 probation, communicating it to you will be the fureft 

 means of diffufing a general knowledge of it, and 

 making it ufeful to fociety at large, which is the only 

 objeft I have in view. 



In May lafl a plantation of rafpberries which had 

 been made in potatoe ground the preceding autumn, 

 was choaked up with potatoe ftalks, from the negli- 

 gence of the labourers in clearing and preparing 

 the ground. A thought ftruck mc, that they might 

 be made beneficial plants inftead of being thrown 

 away as weeds, which had hitherto been the cafe 

 whenever they grow in forbidden ground. I there- 

 fore dug them t;p carefully, and planted about a hun- 

 dred 



