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proper period, carry the fruit, and then decline, in 

 a manner exactly analogous to what happens below 

 ground with the potatoe. The potatoe plant, 

 when it begins to vegetate, fends forth roots into 

 the ground, by which it imbibes its nourifhment 

 like every other plant; but after it has arrived at a 

 certain period of its growth, it begins to fhew its 

 fruit, bearing apparatus below as other plants do 

 above ground. This below ground confifts of a 

 fet of fibres quite diftinct from the roots, which are 

 at firft of a tender flefhy confidence, ufually of a 

 whitifh colour, which is in fome kind blended with 

 a flight tinge of red. Thefe gradually extend them- 

 felves around the plant to a greater or fmaller dis- 

 tance in different kinds of potatoes, and from thefe 

 in due time fpring out the bulbs, or fruit, appearing 

 at firft like fmall excrefcences upon the fibres, 

 whrch gradually expand, and afllime their proper 

 fhape as they advance towards maturity, very much 

 refembling, in thefe particulars of their growth, the 

 progrefs of the cones of the larix tree upon its 

 fmall fibrous branches. Thefe fruit-bearing fibres 

 become by degrees lefs bright in colour, and more 

 firm in confidence; and affume a dark colour and 

 itringy confidence, as they advance towards per- 

 fection. This fet of fibres I would diftinguifh 

 by the name umbilical, from the great fimilarity in 



office 



