ON THE POTATOE PLANT. 3 



plants, and which are totally distinct from the under- 

 ground stem. 



(9.) The stalk or haulm divides into branches, and to 

 these the leaves are attached. The leaves themselves con- 

 sist of a series of leaflets, each leaflet being attached by a 

 fine stalk to the main stalk of the leaf; and at the axil of 

 each leaf is a bud, from whence the potatoe plant may be 

 propagated as well as from the eye of a tuber. Sometimes 

 a potatoe or tuber is developed at the axil of the leaf. 



(10.) Besides these various parts, the plant sends forth 

 flowers which in time produce fruit, and this fruit is termed 

 the potatoe apple. The potatoe apple consists of a pulpy 

 envelope containing small seeds, from which also plants 

 may be raised. 



(11.) Such are the parts of which the potatoe plant is 

 made up in reality. However, we might consider the 

 plant in a more simple manner, for its only essential parts 

 are the leaves and roots, with the intervening stems. The 

 tubers are mere dilatations of the stem, and the flowers 

 and fruit are the result of certain conditions of the plant, 

 and are destined to perform the offices of reproduction. 



(12.) Regarding a plant in this point of view, we have 

 an organic body with certain parts bearing definite relation 

 to each other. The root takes up moisture and earthy 

 salts from the ground; the leaves separate carbon, and 

 send back woody fibre to the root. 



(13.) The potatoe plant, like all organic bodies, con- 

 sists of a solid and a fluid portion. The solid portion gives 

 form, tenacity, and firmness to the plant, and is composed 

 of matter arranged in the form of cells, and is hence called 

 cellular tissue. 



(14.) These cells contain the fluid, or sap, which, when 



