Explanation of the Figures on the Plate.

FIG. 1. represents a parent potatoe, with three young ones, produced in the manner above described, adhering to it. In this case, the ftems by which the young bulbs adhere to the parent stock, are fo fhort as not to appear. The eyes of the young bulbs are completely formed, and the germ of the young stalk just beginning to appear. Some of the roots which fpring out at the place where the stem springs from the parent bulb, have already fhot out to a confiderable length.

Figure 2. represents another old potatoe, with a clufter of young ones, of a small fize, adhering to it. In this example, the ftems have advanced fo far, as to have been nearly penetrating the furface of the earth.

Figure 3. reprefents another potatoe, with a young bulb and a ftem produced from it, confiderably advanced above ground. In this cafe, all the parts are diftinctly seen, and this peculiarity in vegetation is completely developed.

A represents the stem springing out as ufual, from an eye in the parent bulb, with roots fpreading out from it in abundance. All these roots are merely abforbents, none of the umbilical fibres having yet made their appearance.

At a fmall distance from the potatoe, a bulb is formed upon this ftem, which, before the upper ftem fprung out from it, resembled the young potatoes in figure ift.

At C, a new ftem has fprung out from an eye in the young potatoe; but here we difcover no roots fimilar to those which are always to be found at the bottom of the ftem, where it fprings from the original potatoe.

B and D reprefent eyes in this little potatoe, with the germ of young ftem buds peeping out from them, which, as is ufual in every kind of potatoe, are check. ed in their growth by the luxuriance; of the principal ftem.

On another part of this parent potatoe, is feen two other young potatoes adhering to it; in one of which, at F, the item is beginning to advance.-At E, are the germs of flems not fo far advanced.

SIR,

Dr Anderson

To the Editor of the Bee.

A Cruft for the Jokers.

I ALWAYS lov'd a good fmart and innocent jeft; but, believe me, I am far from always liking a joker.

"Is not this fomething like loving the treason, and hating the traitor ?"

By no means; the man who now and then entertains the company with a jeft, is as different from a common joker, as a good free hearted girl is from a common prostitute.

"That is a bold affertion." No bolder than it is true. fition.

But to illuftrate the po

There are various forts of profefed jokers. To mention three of the principal, however, will serve our pur pose at present.

I fhall begin with the wholefale joker, who endeavours to turn almost every thing, however ferious in its nature, into laughter; lies in wait for opportunities to fay good things, tells funny ftories, in which he ftretches the ftrings of probability; and though he means no barm, and perhaps feldom means any thing, would, rather than lofe his joke, risk the lofs of his friend. This, I take it, is no very respectable character.

;

The next in rank is, the retail joker, who deals out jefts as the gentry of Monmouth Street do clothes tells old ftories which he vouches to be new ones; having himself been prefent (as he himself fays) when the

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jokes he mentions took place. This is an engroffer of conversation, a wafter of time ;-an echo twenty times repeated in the ear of a man whose head aches, is not more tiresome than fuch a fellow.

But there is a third fort, whom I term the mischievous joker. One of the most innocent of these is generally enough to make a company unhappy, by making up fome lie or other, which, if believed, must be productive of painful sensations, and then laughing at the credulous hearers (as being taken in) for having had too good an opinion of his veracity. Another fet of thefe rifible gentle folks cloak their affronts under the name of jokes; and while they pretend to raillery, the true fpirit of which they do not, nor will not underftand, fport with the characters alike of the prefent or abfent, tell difagreeable truths, with which they have no business, and frequently frame lies calculated to expofe people to contempt; and when the matter comes to an eclairciffment, nobody must be angry, for the party was but in joke.

I remember feeing one of these facetious gentleman brought rather into a difagreeable fituation by the exercise of his talent, where it was not relished. He had very dexterously delivered of twins, the fifter of an officer (a widow lady) that had been ill of a dropfy; and had faid many good things upon the occafion. He had alfo, with the fame dexterity, made her brother quarrel often about this circumftance, and afterwards refufe a challenge. He embellished his difcourfe with many jefts upon big bellies and red coats, and had nearly finifhed, when the officer in queftion (who was unknown to him) entered the room. The officer feemed highly pleafed with his conversation, and, winking to the company, defired him to repeat many of the good things he had faid. Afterwards he declared himfelf her brother, and very coolly begged to be excufed "for spoiling a good ftory by inquiring into the truth of it;" but this he faid he must be informed of. The wit immediately