2d year-Part potatoes, part Mangel Wurzel, and part vetches, to mow for baiting horses.

3d year-Wheat or rye.

4th year-Turnips.

5th year-Barley, with grass seed.

6th year-Clover and rye grass, to mow or feed horses and cows.

7th year-Ditto for feeding sheep.

8th year-Saintfoin, which will remain many years, and without which we cannot be sure of hay on this dry soil.

I hope he will have a small piece of lucern near the house, as the practice of mowing food for horses to eat in the stable in the heat of the day, is adopted more and more every year, and vetches are not so certain.

I was pleased lately at a Lincolnshire gentleman's expressing his surprise that the poor soil of my farm could bear Mangel Wurzel. He spoke as if it was common in his county, which, I dare say, must produce it in great perfection; but he told me, as if to lessen its value, that it was nothing but a beet, and I did not say it was either a turnip, a cabbage, or a potatoe, each of which have their merits for different soils and seasons. The latter of them, being most valuable for human food, I am most ambitious to promote the cultivation of; for whenever the growth of them becomes generally adopted for the food of cattle, from the time

the turnips should be eat up, till grass is plenti.

ful, the labourers will become as familiar with them as they now are with turnips, and the quantity used by them will be no more missed.

Yours, &c.

LETTERIXXIV.

From the same.

M. MARTIN.

Feb. 23, 1790.

As to Mangel Wurzel, all that I can say of what I have done with it, and letting my neighbours see it, weigh it, and taste it, will now counterbalance a paragraph in the newspapers, asserting that "Lord Fife had tried it, and, notwithstanding all Dr. Lettsom's boasting, found it not equal to turnips." What have you done to make his lordship's bailiff jealous of you? Is he a physician? It would have been but fair to mention how it was tried; and even allowing the gentleman not to have been as much prejudiced against this excellent plant as 99 out of 100 that I have met with, his proving that one soil suits turnips better than that, should not condemn it upon all soils. all soils. I am very glad that most of what I occupy will bear either, and, I hope, be benefited by the variety.

I have this do been gathering a quantity of

moss from the North side of a planted hill. I am told it is the best manure for potatoes that has yet been tried; and a few shillings among the women and children of the parish, may be returned in some unexpected way some time or other, if my potatoes should not pay me, which, however, I do not doubt. M. M.

LETTERLAXV.

Dr. LETTSOM to Sir M. MARTIN, Bart.

Dear Sir Mordaunt,

March 13, 1790.

I hope by this time the seeds of the Mangel Wurzel are safely arrived. That they may do credit to this vegetable, by a prolific return, is my sincere wish.

I received also thy presents of potatoes and specimen of seeds, which I shall carefully regard. I have likewise enjoyed the advantage of perusing the correspondence on the cultivation of potatoes, which I shall re-peruse in my closet, for the purpose of extracting notes for my future government. And here let me not omit to acknowledge thy affectionate and instructive letters, which, though partiality has dictated, solid sense and cordial friendship are predominant.

Any thing thou mayest wish to order by the way of London, may at all times be consigned to

my care. It occurred to me to mention this before I received thy last letter, and it remains for me to add my thanks for the liberty of subtracting from the packet expected from Dr. Anderson.

I believe I forgot to mention the receipt of the strawberries, which have been planted. Many shoots I shall procure from the plants formerly received, which are now remarkably vigorous.

The numerous avocations which confine me for weeks successively in London, prevent me from that accuracy of experiment which ought to precede publication. Add to this, that my villa being in the vicinity of London, numerous visitors ambulate my premises, and beg, or pluck up, some of the objects of experiment; but now I shall be more careful, as well as more attentive, from a change of system, which I shall adopt this month, of sleeping every night out of town, an indulgence I have not hitherto adopted, and quit night business, and long night journeys.

Hitherto I have escaped depredators and robbers pretty well, not having been attacked above four times in twenty years. The last time was by a highwayman, who appeared so much like a gentleman, that I advised him to call upon me in town, and accept my purse and assistance, to extricate him from present embarrassment, if that had induced him to so rash a step as the highway. In three weeks time he took the resolution to call at my house. I instantly knew him, and after many fruitless attempts to serve him effec, ·

tually, I took the liberty of addressing the Queen, and instantly succeeded. He is now an officer in the army; has been twice in the gazette promotions, and is as amiable and deserving an officer as any in the army. This is better than hanging. I was once attacked by six fellows, but they would not stay to hear reason. Last twelfth-night I was attacked in Cheapside by ten fellows, and escaped them all, although I had fifteen guineas in my pocket, and a favourite watch.

But leaving perils, of which I have escaped by sea and land many indeed, I return to Mangel Wurzel, just to say, that its produce with me must be nearly double to that of potatoes. This year I hope to ascertain the proportions by weight.

I do not know whether thou art acquainted with the nature of the Humane Society for the Recovery of Drowned Persons; but I may add, that I have the honour to be an active member of it. What I mean to observe is, that last week we had the wonderful success of restoring a lady, whom we learnt had been one whole hour under water, and appeared as lifeless as this paper. This is Miss Lucy Napleton. Our Anniversary is on the 30th, when about 300 of us dine together; after which her wonderful recovery will be published.

I read last year to the Society a remarkable letter from General Washington, of America, in which, on this subject, he makes a beautiful eulogy on the virtues of saving life, in contrast to that of taking it away. Its zest and merit