THE POTATO ITSELF 291 



So day after day the search was repeated, the 

 ground being covered systematically in every 

 direction, moving each vine, and anxiously scru- 

 tinizing the soil about its roots, lifting every 

 chance leaf under which the little seed receptacle 

 might have lodged. 



And at last this patient search was rewarded. 

 Several feet away from the original vine, snugly 

 lodged at the base of another vine, the 

 missing seed ball was found. 



Whether it had been removed by some bird 

 that had plucked at it inquiringly, thinking that 

 it might furnish food ; or whether some stray dog 

 running through the potato patch had quite by 

 accident broken it off and projected it to where 

 it was found, could not be known. It sufficed 

 that again the precious seeds were in my posses- 

 sion and pains were taken to see that they were 

 safely stored for the winter. 



On removing the seeds from the capsule, it 

 was found that there were twenty-three of them. 

 The coming of spring was eagerly awaited to 

 reveal what hereditary possibilities were stored 

 in these seed balls. 



TWEXTY-THREE NEW VARIETIES 



When spring came the seeds were planted out- 

 of-doors, as one would plant the seeds of other 



