THE PHYSIOLOGY OF SOWING SEEDS. 617 
Among the expedients which have been 
resorted to, to prevent failures in the germina- 
tion of potatoe crops, may be mentioned that of 
autumn planting, which, so far as tried, has fully 
answered expectation. Indeed, from what we 
have already stated, the result could not be 
otherwise, inasmuch as by such a plan we follow 
the course of nature. Tubers left in the ground 
by being overlooked in the gathering of the 
previous crop, never fail to germinate. But as 
such a plan cannot, in all cases, be carried out 
conveniently, if we only select our potatoes for 
seed at the time of gathering, and keep them dry 
ina dark place, and in such small quantities 
that they cannot sprit, then we may reasonably 
expect as we answer the object of nature, though 
for artificial purposes, she will make a due return 
for the attention paid to the principles of her 
economy in favouring us with a full and contin- 
uous germination of all our potatoe plants. Tor 
being so explicit in treating of the planting of 
potatoes, and the physiology thereof, the vast 
importance at present of the subject for the 
future well-being of us all, will, I trust, be 
accepted, as an ample apology. 
When vegetation commences, the habits of the 
