1 No. XIII. To the Preſident gf the Bouard.

168 J

8 I K,

I HAPD the honour of receiving your letter of the IIth inſtant, which I delayed anfwering till I ſhould make ſome enquiry about the mode of raiſing potatoes from cuts or ſlips taken from the ſtems, as the fact had not come under my own obſervation.

It ſeems to be well known among the gardeners here, and in other coun- ties, that potatoes may be raiſed from flips or ſide-branches of the ſtems, cut or tore off from under-ground and planted; but the crop had in this way, is late and unproductive, the deficiency being far more than equal to the ſaving of ſeed; ſo that this mode of raiſing potatoes in the county is not practiſed as matter of utility, but curioſity.

I had heard that a great proportion of the kind of potatoe raiſed by the gentlemen of this county, had been propagated from a few brought to it by David Hume, the hiſtorian.

8IR, Nour moſt obedient and very humble ſervant,

44 ALEX. LOW.

No. XIV.

Incloſed to the Pręſident of tbe Board. 8 1R,

HAVING noticed you frequently to throw out occafional hints for the advancement of agriculture, and particularly that the planting of potatoes might be continued during all the month ot April, I am induced to addreſs You, leſt perſons not converſant in the culture of that incomparable vege- table food, might infer the inefficacy of planting at a later period of the ſeaſon. Speaking from experience, I would ſeldom chuſe to plant before the firſt of May, if the intention were to raiſe a full mature crop for pre- ſerving over the winter, as in the field culture; for by a more early plant- ing there would be ſome riſk of injury by froſt, the plant being remarkably tender in its firſt vegetation. But I have planted, with a conſiderable