in the Neighbourhood of Aberdeen. 437 



lowing dimensions : — Handle 14 in. long, stalk 

 from a to b 27 in., from b to c 7 J in.; circum- 

 ference of the stalk 4f in., at d 8 in., and at 

 c 6 in. : from b to c is covered with iron one 

 eighth of an inch thick, with a point of solid steel 

 1^ in. deep. I lay down two lines 18 in. apart 

 on one side of the ground to be planted, and, 

 taking the dibble in both hands, with a foot 

 on each side of the line, I make the holes at 

 the rate of eighty a minute ; a boy follows 

 close behind with a small basket, dropping 

 in the sets, and drawing one foot over the holes, so as to cover 

 them neatly in. Then, by lifting both lines at each end alter- 

 nately, there is always one of them tight. This method of plant- 

 ing is superior to every other that I know of, where ease, despatch, 

 and accuracy of execution are desirable. The size of the hole 

 has this advantage, that the largest cutting goes to the bottom 

 (6 in.), and the smallest goes no farther ; consequently, they come 

 up all together, strong and healthy, and as equal, as to distance, 

 as if they had been pointed off with a pair of compasses. A man 

 and a boy putting in the sets will plant three quarters of an acre 

 a day with the greatest ease. The system of keeping the 

 " cuttings of the one end separate from those of the other, 

 drilling, and covering in with the hoe," may be all very well for 

 a gentleman's gardener, who has time, men, and money at com- 

 mand; but, to a market-gardener paying a high rent, the smallest 

 saving of either is of paramount importance. The above simple 

 process (simple in every respect, and which may be adopted by 

 the poorest person in the " Emerald Isle," without requiring 

 either extra time or expense) I have practised, with uniform 

 success, for six years; and the produce has generally been 

 32 bolls per acre of early, and 40 of late potatoes; or 11 and 

 14 tons, or thereabouts, in soil light and dry. With the " Scotch 

 pink eye," and " Scotch apple," I am not at all acquainted. The 

 " Manlie," a round potato, and the red-nosed kidney, are both 

 early, and, I think, superior to any of the metropolitan varieties 

 that I have seen (and I have had numbers of them), where they 

 are grown to eat as well as to sell. The red-nosed and blue 

 kidneys, and blue American round, are superior to any other late 

 sorts. This method of culture may be perfectly understood, and 

 generally practised in England, but I have neither seen, nor 

 heard of, its existence there. 

 JVestfield, January 16. 1834. 



Mr. Wright has since, in a communication dated March 20., favoured us 

 with tubers of the Manlie and red-nosed kidney potatoes, of which he has 

 spoken above. On the kind called the Manlie, he has added, that " an old 



