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formation of other bulbs will be the result. The sap which these plants 

 would have naturally employed in the formation of seeds, is thus made 

 to contribute to the growth of bulbs. By depriving the potatoe plant of 

 its tubers we cause it to blossom and seed abundantly ; obviously the 

 same sap gives existence alike to tubers and seeds ; therefore, by prevent- 

 ing the growth of flowers and seeds, we must add to the growth of 

 tubers. 



Many experiments have been made from time to time with a view to 

 determine whether any and what benefit is to be derived from plucking 

 off the blossoms of the potatoe plants, and very different results have been 

 arrived at. Some maintaining that they have proved experimentally that 

 it is highly beneficial to remove the flowers; others, with equal confidence, 

 refer to their experiments and contend that no advantage whatever is 

 gained by the practice. Both may be perfectly right as to the result of 

 their experiments. The difference of opinion, I conceive, arises from 

 not takmg into account the influence of certain circumstances, which 

 must interfere with or vary the results. The benefit or otherwise of 

 plucking off the flowers, will depend partly upon the habits of the variety 

 of the potatoe, partly upon the quality of the soil, and partly upon the 

 nature of the season. 



The greater the number of berries a variety naturally produces, the 

 greater will be the gain of removing the flower buds. Second early varieties 

 seldom produce many seeds, consequently little or no advantage could be 

 gained by removing the floAvers of these, as compared with late varieties, 

 which generally bear seeds abundantly. The quantity of berries pro- 

 duced by a given late variety will also depend upon the quality of the 

 soil. The better and more suitable the soil may be, the greater will be 

 the health and productiveness of a plant. The reproductive powers of a 

 plant also depend upon the nature of the season. If the weather of June 

 and July should be warm and bright with frequent showers, we may ob- 

 serve that even intermediate varieties are enabled to elaborate a quantity 

 of sap equal to the wants of tubers and seeds, and in such a season the 

 crop of berries of a late variety would be most abundant. The greatest 

 amount of benefit to be derived from plucking off the blossoms, will 

 therefore, obviously be from a late variety, growing in a soil and seasoa 

 favorable to the potatoe. 



Much also depends on the degree of care observed in nipping off the 

 blossoms. The plants are nearly full grown when they flower, and if 



