and will shortly be able to get rid of that laziness, filthiness, and naftiness, 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 you had made on the fhoots of potatoes, " and requested, I might plant fome 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 fhoots, 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 them very large, and would have been "more fo, had they been planted earlier, and "better attended to; I have taken the liberty of acquainting you with the fuccess of the "experiment, as I know your great anxiety "about it; I fall try the experiment next cc year on a larger fcale. I weighed. one of the potatoes, and it weighed near three "quarters of a pound, and the others were "almost as large. I tried my other potatoes "that I had in beds, and dug this day the "fame number of ftalks that I had planted, "and that in the prefence of Lancelott "O'Brien, Efq. and found your experiment "more productive than thofe in the beds. "Mr. O'Brien underneath certifies the above. I am, Dr. Sir, your most obedient and « very humble fervant," "WILLIAM RICHARD HILLIARD.” "I was prefent when Mr. Hilliard dug the "potatoes planted from the fhoots, agree"able to Doctor Maunfell's culture of pota"toes, and do find them anfwer agreeable "to "to what Mr. Hilliard has fet forth in the "foregoing letter. Witness my hand this "3d day of November, 1792. "LANCELOTT O'BRIEN." Rev Doctor Maunfell, Square, Limerick. "Dromin, Nov. 20, 1792. "DR. DOCTOR,. "Agreeable to your requeft, I have plant"ed fome potatoe fhoots in the manner you "directed, and on my trying them, found "them as good, if not better, than thofe "fown in the ufual way; I fhall, from this "time forward, continue your plan, as I am "convinced it is a better way, and a greater "faving of potatoes. I hope to have one acre fown in this manner, by the "time you come to the country; and am, "Dr. Doctor, with beft regards to all friends « in the Square,".. "Your much obliged, "and obedient humble fervant, "RICHARD RAYMOND." The Rev. Doctor Maunfell, Square, Limerick. MY |