t 254 ] 



Some have thought that the fermentation is oc- 

 cafioned by too great quantities being heaped to- 

 gether ^ but the writer has feen an inftance, wherein 

 a fingle potatoe, preferved by itfelf, when fet, pro- 

 duced ftems of the curled kind. He thinks the 

 tnoft confident and rational opinion is, that the dif- 

 eafc is occafioned by the potatoes being taken from 

 the ground before the ftamen, or miniature-plant, 

 js properly matured and ripened. 



' For let it be obferved, that the potatoe, being a 

 native of a warmer climate, has there more fun, 

 and a longer continuance in the ground, than in its 

 prefent exotic ftate; confequently, it has not the 

 fame natural caufes here to mature the feed plant, 

 as in its native ftate. We ought, therefore, to give 

 all the opportunities our climate will admit for na- 

 ture to complete her work, and fit the ftamen for 

 the next ftate of vegetation, efpecially in t'hofe in- 

 tended for feed. But if the potatoe be taken up 

 before the feed-plant be fully matured, or the air 

 and fap vefTels have acquired a proper degree of 

 firmnefs or hardnefs, it muft, when thus robbed of 

 further nutrition, fhrivel up ; and when the vefTels, 

 in this immature ftate, come to a6l again in the 

 fecond ftate of vegetation, they may produce plants 

 which are curled* 



If 



