11 



weaknesses which are the outcome of close breeding- 

 are not presented, while the vigour which is expected 

 from the alliance of two distinct strains is frequently 

 obtained, though this is not invariably the case. New 

 varieties can only be obtained by cross-fertilisation, that 

 is by fertilising the anther of the blossom of one with 

 the pollen from the blossom of another plant. En- 

 deavours have been made to obtain new varieties by 

 cutting out the eye of a tuber of one variety and in- 

 serting it in a corresponding hole in a tuber of another 

 variety, but this has not the desired effect. It is ana- 

 logous to budding a rose on to briar, the result of which 

 is that above the place where the bud was inserted 

 there is a rosebush possessing the characteristics of the 

 bush from which the bud was taken, but below it is 

 still the briar. The two have not been changed, each 

 retains its own particular features, and there is no in- 

 termingling. A bud from one tuber inserted in another 

 will grow and take up nourishment from the one in 

 which it is placed, but though it assimilates the food it 

 does not partake of its physical characteristics. It is 

 true that slight variation has been noticed occasionally,, 

 but potatoes are so liable to produce sports or hidden 

 features that those few variations which have been 

 noticed are not regarded as indicative of new and 

 stable varieties. Until within the past few years new 

 varieties were obtained from the seeds taken hap- 

 hazard from the fruits or apples of any potato, but 

 systematic crossing was not practised. It was found 

 that one apple would often produce seeds which de- 



