A ON THE POTATOE PLANT. 



(3.) From this set, or original potatoe, a stalk or stem 

 proceeds, which takes its course towards the light, and 

 becomes the haulm or stalk of the plant. The stalk pro- 

 ceeds from that part of the set called the eye, which is to 

 the potatoe what a bud is to a tree. From a potatoe three 

 or more large stalks will grow; and, if these are successively 

 removed and separately planted, the number of plants 

 which one potatoe will produce is almost incredible. 



(4.) In consequence of the set being usually below the 

 ground, and the shoots having a tendency to grow towards 

 the light, part must be below the earth's surface, whilst the 

 other part extends upwards and expands its foliage to the 

 atmosphere. 



(5.) From that part below the earth's surface other 

 stems proceed, which are termed under-ground stems, 

 though perhaps they should rather be called the tuberose 

 stems, because it is upon these that the tubers or potatoes 

 are found. 



(6.) These tuber-bearing stems, starting from the main 

 stem, become dilated at certain intervals, which dilatation 

 is the potatoe. This has, at certain parts, eyes or buds, 

 from whence the new plant grows. 



(7.) From the potatoe the stem extends itself, and creep- 

 ing upwards through the ground, at last becomes a stalk 

 or above-ground stem, sending off in its turn other tuber- 

 bearing stems below the surface of the ground, and hav- 

 ing on its upper part foliage, as in the case of the primary 

 stem. 



(8.) The original stem, together with the primary and 

 secondary tuber-bearing stems, has fine filaments running 

 from it in the ground, which are the true roots of the 

 plant, performing the same functions as the roots of other 



