OF THE POTATOE PLANT. 7 



same kind ; and although millions of potatoes have been 

 raised from theoriginal parent plant, yet the millionth potatoe 

 is but an extension of the first plant of that peculiar kind. 

 (25.) We have, however, many kinds of potatoes, and, 

 therefore, many individuals which we have preserved and 

 propagated, because their individual peculiarities have been 

 found to be most serviceable to the wants of man. 



(26.) These kinds of potatoes are seedlings, and each 

 seedling is a distinct individual, which, although it may 

 follow the general law of the transmission of peculiarities 

 from parent to offspring, is yet always liable, after a few 

 generations, to revert to the original type, whence all the 

 varieties came. 



(27.) When persons are desirous of raising new kinds 

 of potatoes, they sow seed and collect, the produce. If any 

 one plant is particularly good in quality, they specially 

 preserve it ; and so long as this plant is propagated by the 

 tubers, the distinctness or the excellence of the kind is 

 preserved. 



(28.) When you are desirous to raise potatoes from 

 seed, collect the apples in autumn when they will fall 

 spontaneously ; preserve them in sand till spring ; sow in 

 fine garden mould ; transplant, as soon as the young 

 plants are strong enough, into other mould, and keep clear 

 from weeds. The tubers of the first year are as big as 

 a nut or walnut ; those of the second year attain a middle 

 size ; and in the third or fourth full-sized tubers are pro- 

 duced. 



(29.) This mode of raising choice potatoes is similar to 

 that of raising all other vegetable varieties ; for the deli- 

 cious Ribston pippin is but a seedling variety of the com- 



