14 ON THE INDIVIDUALITY 



from the top of the stem to the end of the root was about 

 eight feet. In this instance the amount of tubers was very 

 small relatively to the size of the leaf, when compared 

 with plants of other varieties. 



(49.) This plant was characterized not only by this 

 abundance of leaves, but was peculiar also, in having a 

 great tendency to send forth numerous lateral shoots at the 

 surface of the ground, which, spreading in all directions, 

 become other above-ground stems. 



(50.) Another wild plant has been received by the 

 Horticultural Society from E. H. Uhde, Esq., from Michu- 

 acca and valley of Tolucco. It has the same tendency as 

 that in the Chelsea Gardens to throw out lateral shoots 

 from the collar, but it is not now above three feet high. 

 The tubers from whence it was raised were about the size 

 of a small walnut. They were planted in July, and were 

 in flower in the middle of October ; but up to that time no 

 tubers were formed. 



(51.) All our garden varieties which exist at the present 

 time have probably sprung from Gerard's specimen (plate 

 i.), or some of the same period ; but it is very uncertain 

 how the plant got to Virginia. 



(52.) Miller gives forty-four species of potatoes. A po- 

 tatoe grower enumerates one hundred and fifty-eight kinds, 

 with their respective flavor, height of the stem, &c. At 

 the Horticultural Gardens, Mr. Thompson informs me that 

 they cultivate two hundred kinds, though perhaps not more 

 than twenty varieties are commonly sent to the London 

 market. 



(53.) The peculiar kind of potatoe is maintained by an 

 extension of the same individual from a bud. This bud 

 may be either the whole tuber with its eyes, the eye of 



