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growth, in order tliat the healthiest and the best may be selected to he 

 the parents of the seed-bearing plants in the following year. Those 

 which exhibit the greatest hardiness, which suffer the least from adverse 

 weather, &c., must be marked by labels ; and, if, in addition to this indis- 

 pensable property, any possess other good points, such as rather dwarf, 

 stolet, rigid stems, good shaped tubers, and ripen somewhat early, a 

 preference should be given to them. The tubers of the seedling plants 

 must be carefully preserved during the winter. When the time for plant- 

 ing has again arrived, and the ground prepared, and the stakes fixed 

 where the seed-bearing plants are to grow, select two or three of the 

 largest tubers and plant them at once ; and so proceed till the allotted 

 space is occupied. These plants to be managed, in all respects, same as 

 those of the preceding year. And when, by persevering in this process, 

 the main object is attained, hardiness of constitution and freedom from 

 disease, we may then more especially endeavor to obtain varieties unit- 

 ing excellence of quality, and other desirable properties, with robust 

 health. A careful and practised experimenter will, indeed, have an eye- 

 to this from the beginning. He will, at the outset, consider the various 

 points which constitute perfection in the potatoe, and to this ideal stand- 

 ard he will constantly aim. 



With a view to forward the young plants and to obtain large tubers 

 from them in the first year, many will be induced to sow the seeds in a 

 hot-bed ; but as our chief aim is to increase the constitutional hardiness 

 of the plant, this mode of raising the seedlings cannot be too strongly- 

 condemned. Sir Joseph Paxton, who is eminent as a gardener, as well as 

 a designer of Crystal Palaces, says, "Seeds ripened or germinated in 

 heat will never produce such hardy plants as those matured and vegetated 

 in open air. This has been abundantly corroborated id practice, and 

 proofs of its accuracy are constantly transpiring." 



The experience of the Silesian Agriculturist, acquired in his endeavors 

 to regenerate the potatoe, exactly coincide with Paxton's observations. 

 "I have," said he, "made successful attempts to obtain already in the 

 first year perfect potatoes by sowing the seeds in a hot-bed. I prefer, 

 however, a regular biennial growth ; if I reap a twelvemonth later I get 

 a durable article, which answers all the expectations which may be form- 

 ed, and is safe from the prevalent disease." 



Some who have raised a few plants from seed, and found they were 

 blighted, have hastily concluded that there is no hope in seedlings. I have 



