292 LUTHER BURBANK 



choice plants. The ground had been pre- 

 pared with great care, and each seed was 

 placed about a foot from its next neighbor in 

 the row. 



To-day I would not think of planting very 

 valuable seeds of any kind in this way. The risk 

 would seem far too great. 



They should be planted in boxes, in the man- 

 ner described in the chapter on the care of seed- 

 lings, and given individual attention in the 

 greenhouse. 



But many times it happens that we pass quite 

 safely and unwittingly through dangers that 

 seem very threatening indeed when we look back 

 upon them. And so it was with the twenty-three 

 potato seeds. Every one of them germinated 

 and put out its tiny cotyledons and grew into a 

 thrifty vine. And although not one of them 

 produced a seed ball, each one developed a com- 

 plement of tubers. 



Interesting developments were expected, but 

 no one could have any very clear idea as to what 

 these developments might be. But I certainly 

 had not expected so remarkable an exhibition as 

 that which met my eyes, when, late in the fall, the 

 day came for digging the potatoes, and each hill 

 in turn was carefully opened and made to reveal 

 its treasure. 



