AJlronomy. — Culture of Potatoes. 91 



had the prize. I folicit the government to propofe prizes in 

 the fame manner, to accelerate our knowledge of comets, the 

 only branch of aftrononiv which has not made progrefs. It 

 is, however, fo eafy to find comets, that thofe not altrono- 

 mers may difcover them when they choofe. 



Lalakde." 

 astronomy. 



" Who can decide, when doftors difajree ?" 



" For fome years the fpots of the fun had become rare; 

 but on the 23d of September, in the morning, I nbferved a 

 beautiful round and well-defined one, and found it to be 

 22 degrees to the north of the folar equator. This is a pa- 

 rallel in which very beautiful ones have been feen ; which 

 confirms me iii the opinion which T advanced, (Memoh-£s de 

 I'Academie 1776 and 1778,) that there are eminences in the 

 opake and folid nucleus of the fun, where fome fcorije, which 

 float on this ocean of fire, are flopped from time to time. 

 This does not agree with the idea of Dr. Herfcliel ; but this 

 Celebrated obfervcr is more to be admired for his obfervations 

 than his hyputhefes. Lalandk.'* 



CULTURE OF POTATOES. 



ExtraSi of a Leticr from Sir Jolvi Methuen Poorey Barf, 

 • to Sir PViUiam Puileucj, Bart. 



SIR, Rufnall, April4, 180T. 



I can prove, not bv theory, but prafticc, the benefit of 

 planting potatoes on fallows. In the parilh where I refide, 

 the whole of which, except five acres,"is my property, there 

 are thirty cottages, containing 131 poor people. I have, for 

 five or fix years pall, allotted, free from rent, four acres of 

 land, intended to be fown with wheat the followini!; autumn, 

 for the cottagers to plant with potatoes; by which means 

 each raifes from ten to fifteen lacks (equal to 240 pounds per 

 lack), yearlv, in proportion lo the number of their children : 

 each has not only fufficicnt for his family, but he is enabled 

 alfo to fat a pig. They declare, was I to give among them a 

 hundred pounds, it would not be of lb much benefit lo tiiem; 

 and it is not one fliillingoutof my pocket, for I have as good, 

 if not a better crop of wheat from this land, as I have from 

 the other part of the field. 



The method I take is this : — The latter end of November 

 I plough the land; the frod during tlie winter mellows it : 

 the beginning of jMarch iollowing, I plough it again, and 

 harrow it; at both which times I have little to do with my 

 Jjorfcs : I then divide it into lots j 4 man with a large family 



has 



