1 64 



obtain healthy cuttings or raise new ^^arieties for themselves." 

 — From Queensland Agricultural Journal of Feb., 1904, page 90, 



Other records of seed. 



1. It is to be noted that what is evidently the first mention 

 of fruit and seed of the sweet potato appeared as early as 1707 

 (see Sloane, Jour. Nat. Hist. 1: 150, 151). Here, however, the 

 capsule is described as having only one seed. 



2. "The experiments carried on at the Botanic Station, 

 Tobago, with seedling sweet potatoes have gi\en good returns. 

 The plants generally are different in growth and colour from 

 those cultivated in the island and good varieties are expected 

 from the selected seedlings." (Agricultural News 2: 28.) 



3. "The Curator of the Montserrat Botanic Station reports 

 that about 100 sweet potato plants have lately been raised from 

 seed and are now growing in the nursen,' at the station. In this 

 connection it m^ly be mentioned that the well-known and heavy- 

 cropping 'Hen and Chickens' and 'Spooner' sweet potatoes are 

 seedling varieties." (Agricultural News 8: 124.) 



4. "Attempts are being made at Buitenzorg to improve 

 cassava and sweet potatoes by deA'eloping strains from seedlings. 

 According to the Piiilippine Agriculturist and Forester, Vol. Ill, 

 No. 7, sixty-three varieties of cassava have been tested during 

 the last three years, of which the best twehe are listed by name. 

 Of these eight are varieties obtained from Brazil, three are nati\"e 

 Japanese, and one is a seedling. The use of seed with sweet 

 potato promises results of surprising value." (Agricultural 

 News 14: 140.) 



At The New York Botaxical Gardex. Fifteen seedlings 

 in all have been grown from the seed sent by Dr. Groth (dis- 

 cussed under Santo Domingo). Nine seedlings were grown in 

 pots and in August were sent to the Office of Horticultural 

 and Fomological Investigations of the U. S. Dejxirtment of 

 Agriculture. Cuttings from two of these, together with eight 

 seedlings of belated germinations (ten in all) were grown in pots 

 and kept in a greenhouse over the following winter. 



On Januar>- 12, 1923, one of the ijlants grown from a culling of 

 one of the plants sent to Washington began to bloom continuing 

 until thirteen flowers were produced. Tlie anthers in nearly 

 all cases dehisced readiK' and full>- and the i)()llcn was ai)un(lant 

 with at least 90% of it well filled with gr.iiuilar contents, l^leven 

 flowers were carefully pollinated by hand,' but in no case did 

 fruit start to form. The vines of this plant died about May ist, 

 but pre\'ious to this dale cuttings from it were rooted. 



Old plants grown in ])ots during the winter and >()unger ones 

 from cuttings were transplanted in ihc field and there grown 



'These studies of pollen and the jiollinalions were made li\ Miss Hester 

 M. Rusk, Assistant in the l,al)oratorics, N. '\'. I5()taTii(aI Cardeii. 



