POTATOES. 27 



lie determined that he would devote himself with care and 

 assiduity to the final settlement of this question, aud for years 

 aod years he followed up these experiments — weighing and 

 measuring, noting the kinds of potatoes which he planted, 

 and observing with the most scrupulous care all the circum- 

 stances which were incident to each experiment. I rose simply 

 for the purpose of giving you the results of the protracted 

 experiments which Mr. Schwarts has made. They are these : 



1st. The amount of net produce, deduction being made for 

 the quantity of potatoes used for setting, bears a tolerably ex- 

 act proportion to the latter quantity ; that is to say, that one 

 who sets a larger quantity of tubers will usually obtain a more 

 abundant crop than one who sets a smaller quantity. 



2d. Fine large tubers produce not only larger potatoes, but 

 also greater numbers of them. 



3d. The degeneracy often observed in potatoes apparently 

 results from the use of unhealthy plants for setting. 



And let me remark, by the way, that this is the circum- 

 stance which usually vitiates the experiments which are made 

 upon this subject. Farmers are not sufficiently careful to 

 make the necessary physiological observations upon tlie con- 

 dition of the potatoes which they plant, as they ought to do, 

 in order to -have their experiments clear and satisfactory. 

 I do not know of any mode, except microscopic observations, 

 which will enable a person who has never seen the potatoes 

 growing, to go to a heap and select those which are in the 

 most perfect physiological condition. This can be done by 

 those farmers who raise potatoes, for they have an opportu- 

 nity to notice the vigor of the vine and the growth and ma- 

 turity of the potato ; and they can always l^e sure, if they will 

 take pains, to verify these three statements of Mr. Schwarts 

 that I have read to you. 



4th, Small tubers, and those which are destitute of buds, 

 cannot be recommended for setting. 



5th. When potatoes of a medium quality are planted, it is 

 better to set them whole; but when the tubers are very large, 

 the halves will be found sufficient, provided, however, that 

 they are set rather closely in the rows. 



