xiv P R E F A C E. 



maniifadures and improvements in Scotland. As one inflance of 

 many, I fliall only mention that given to thofe who raifed the 

 ,greateft quantity of the beft kinds of Potatoes, which ought to 

 eternize their names. At that period, from the exorbitant price of 

 corn, the poor were in the utmoft diftrefs, and that root was pro- 

 portionably high : But no fooner were the premiums for it publifli- 

 ed, than an almofl univerfal fpirit and emulation arofe amongft 

 the farmers and kitchen-gardeners, who fhould excel, which, 

 joined to an increafe of knowledge in its culture, from extenfive 

 pradlce, in two or three years reduced the former price to lefs 

 th an one half; fb that it fuddenly became, and ftill continues to 

 be, the greatefl: part of common labourers food. 



From refle<£ling on the falutary effedls of thefe premiums, and 

 the bad flate of our nurferies, I cannot help humbly begging 

 leave to reprefent to that Honourable Board, That were an 

 honorary reward (as I imagine a pecuniary one would be un- 

 necelTary) publiflied at the end of four, five, or fix years, as they 

 may judge moft proper, to the perfon who fliall raife, from the 

 youngeft to the largeft plantable fizes, the greatefl quantity of 

 the beft cultivated Fruit and Foreft-trees, Hedge-plants, and 

 other ufeful nurfery articles, in proportion to the extent of land 

 he employs for thefe purpofes, and a committee of fliiiful candid 

 men appointed to vifit the nurferies about Edinburgh, or where 

 elfe they fliall think them v/orthy of notice in Scotland, 

 at niid-fummer when cloathed with their leaves, or in au- 

 tumn before the planting feafon commences, — to infpec5t the 

 various methods of their culture, and general fyftem of ma- 

 nagement, — to fee fpecimens of the plants raifed, for examination 

 of their roots, as well as the proportion of their bodies, — and to 

 advertife in the ufual way the perfon mofl: deferving, — I am 



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