THK POTATO 



The idea is prevalent that potatoes do not bloom so 

 freely now as formerly. The facts do not tend to con- 

 firm this. Mark Catesb}-, who was in this countr}- in 

 1722 and 1726, wrote that " in \^irginia and to the 



FIG. 3 — SECTIONAL VIEW OF POTATO FI-0\VF.R 

 {Diagra m malic) 

 a— Ovary. /^—Ovules, which finally become seeds, c — Calyx, made up of 

 green-colored leaves, d — Stigma. The pollen attaches itself at this place. 

 ^— style, down which the pollen-tube passes to the ovary and ovules. 

 /—Petals, white to purple in color, i— Stamens. The thick upper portion 

 bears the pollen, and is known as the anther. 



north thereof, they [potatoe.s] are annuals, and produce 

 no flowers, while in Carolina and the Bahama Islands 

 they produce jflowers." Many varieties existed at 

 that time, particularly in Virginia, and five kinds were 

 common — the Common, Bermudas, Brimstone, Carrot, 



