[BEZUEU
ved, to the moiſture of the ſoil and climate; which prevents early ſowing, and horſe-hoeing between the rows, and oc- caſion the ſlalks to grow with ſo much luxuriancy, that the beans did not pod and ripen ſo well as in the broad-caſt way". Vetches or tares are often mixed with peaſe and beans 5 but ſeldom ſowed alone. One gentleman, for the purpoſe of ſoiling horſes, cultivated the /ummer vetich upon Carſe- land. They ſucceeded remarkably well, and afforded a noble bite between the firſt and ſecond cuttings of clover. The wz7t- ter vetch has never been attempted 3; the ſoil and climate, as already ſtated, being unfavourable.
Potatoes.=-It appears from a memoir preſented to the Board of Agriculture by William Wright, M.D. F.R. 5. that tbis valuable exotic was not planted out in the open field in this county, or perhaps any where elſe in Scotland, till about the year 1728, when Thomas Prentice, a day- ]abourer, firſt eultivated potatoes in the open field in the pa- riſh of Kilſyth. His example, owing to the ſucceſs of his experiment, was ſoon followed by ſeveral of his neigh- bours: But little or none of the produce was for a while expoſed to ſale. His perſevering exertions, aided by a lau- dable induſtry, enabled him to accumulate L. 200 Sterling, which he ſunk for double intereſt. Upon this he ſubfiſted till his death, which happened at Edinburgh'in 1792. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-ßx. To men in the lower ſtations of life, ſociety is not unfrequently indebted for ſome of the moſt valuable improvements. A tribute of grateful remembränce is ſurely the leaſt reward that the community can beftow on a worthy charader, that has con- tributed, in any remarkable degree, to promote the good of mankind.
About twelve or-ſixteen“ years after potatoes were thus introduced, Mr Graham, who alfo lived in Kilſyth, cultiva- ted them in great quantities for ſale. This gentleman was among the firſt who ſupplied the market of Glaſgow with potatoes. He was very ſucceſsful; and bis» example in rais
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