and will shortly be able to get rid of that lazinefs, filthiness, and naftinefs, which have been too long the reproach of this kingdom. I am, My Lords and Gentlemen, Your very obedient fervant,' W. Maunfell. Copies of Letters, Certificates, and Affidavits, relative to the Produce of Potatoes from the Shoots, as experienced by the following Gentle men, the last Year. DEAR SIR, Ballyhouragan, Nov. 3, 1792. "WHEN you did me the pleasure of "calling on me in your way to Dean Graves's, • you mentioned to me, an experiment that CC you had made on the fhoots of potatoes, " and requested, I might plant some of them, "in order to try the experiment. I really " laughed at your thought, and did not think "I should have a fingle potatoe; however, to "gratify your wifh, I made my labourer to "plant fome of the shoots, but little at "tention was paid to them; this happened in "the latter end of laft May, but to my great furprize, when I dug them this day, found "them "Sackville, Nov. 28, 1792. "MY DR. FRIEND, "I inclofe you the affidavit of my garde, "ner relative to the experiment we made on “ your new method of propagating potatoes, "to which I refolve to give a more ample "trial next year; and from what I have feen "already, do really think the mode may be "rendered very effectual, and prove a great faving to the poor; you will do well to "make it publick: I form good hopes, that "the practice of next year will establish your theory, “I am, my Dr. Friend, "THOMAS GRAVES." County of Kerry, to wit.. "I THOMAS FITZGE"RALD, do fwear, that on or about the 22d day of May last, I did, "pursuant to the directions of the Rev. "Thomas Graves, Dean of Ardfert of Sack"ville, in faid county, with whom I live in "ftation "station of Gardener, plant a few of the "shoots which iffued from potatoes, then lying heaped up together in an house, and "did fet the fame in a small drill, in one "of the fquares of the garden of the faid "Dean Graves, at Sackville aforefaid, who ❝ told me that he refolved to try an experi"ment, fuggefted to him by the Rev. Doctor "Maunfell, of Limerick; that I covered faid " shoots lightly with earth, and afterwards "trenched them up once only, and that no "potatoes or fets of potatoes were fown in "faid ground, save only the shoots afore"faid; and that when in the month of "October laft, I dug faid drills in which I ❝ had planted the shoots aforefaid, I did to my great surprise, find as fine potatoes, if "not finer and larger, produced from faid "fhoots, than any I have seen this year "growing from potatoes fown in the usual manner. Sworn before me this 28th day " of November, 1792. "THOMAS GRAVES." THOMAS FITZGERALD. County |