R N. Salaman and J. W. Lesley 



33 



quantity and quality vary considerably, but as a rule it is "medium, ' 

 containing about 5 per cent, f^ood grains. Forms berries but sparingly, 

 such berries having fewer seeds than the preceding. 



Parchment bags and the usual precautions were used unless expressly 

 noted to the contrary. The seed from each berry was kept separate, 

 which served as a useful check when self-set or "natural" berries were 

 used. 



More than 200 selfed seedhngs were raised from Edgecote Purple and 

 many of these carried on to the second year by tubers. Twenty-five plants 

 flowered which were recorded as follows : 



Abundant ... 20 Small ... ... 1 



Medium ... 3 Very few grains 1 



All of the nine examined qualitatively contained good pollen (see Table I). 

 Two plants, one with "small" ([uantity, the other with "very few 

 grains,"' were only once recorded and are of doubtful significance. Fer- 

 tility, which has already been shown to be recessive in the potato, here 

 probably breeds true in accordance with expectation. Five individuals 

 formed self-set berries. 



Table I. 



Abundant 



Medium 



Small 



Per cent. good. 



Some 200 selfed seedlings from Myatt's Ashleaf were raised, mostly 

 in 1921 which was a disastrous year for potato seedlings in this district. 

 Of these only two flowered, both having "abundant" pollen of which 

 some at least was certainly good. The evidence here is very meagre and 

 merely shows that Myatt's Ashleaf gives fertile offspring when selfed. 



In the case of Edzell Blue only self-set or "natural" seed has been 

 available notwithstanding that about 100 flowers were self fertilised 



Joum. of Agric. Sci. xii 3 



