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§. III. 



In conformity with the notion that frecifely three 

 years are neceflary for bringing to perfection the 

 firft bulb raifed from feed, it has been aiferted, that 

 no method is fo proper for obtaining potatoes very 

 early as to plant thefe feedling potatoes after the 

 fecond year's growth pretty early in the third fpring, 

 to fufFer them to remain in the ground for fome 

 time, and to dig them up in the months of June or 

 July; when, it is faid, they have attained their full 

 fize and due perfection in every refpect. But I did 

 not find from experience the fmalleft foundation 

 for this beautiful hypothecs. It has already been 

 faid, that no augmentation in the fize of the parent 

 bulb takes place, after being planted, in this cafe 

 more than in others. The parent bulb in all cafes 

 waftes away and confumes, and it is the young bulbs 

 produced from the fibres of the plant that fpring 

 out from it which are ever fit for ufe. I dug up 

 feveral of thefe feedling potatoes in the fecond and 

 third years of their growth, in the months of June 

 and July, and could obferve no difference between 

 the progrefs thefe plants had then made, and their 

 whole ccconomy, and others of the fame kind 

 planted in the ufual way. The bulb planted as feed 

 wafted away nearly at the fame period in both 



cafes, 



