626~ [AS9EMBL7 



has been subjected to our artificial process of high culture, with much 

 manure, which has generally changed its chemical and structural 

 condition. By this artificial forcing in higher conditioned land, it 

 has been vastly increased in size, and the relative proportion of its 

 constituent principles altered. The proportion of its starch and su- 

 gar, both absolute and relative, have been very greatly augmented, 

 and that of its gluten, as I conceive, proportionably diminished. 



The potato is an exotic and tropical plant, and although it has 

 been long acclimatized, we know in practice that it is a delicate es- 

 culent, requiring a great deal more care in its cultivation and pre- 

 servation generally, than it has received. 



The wearing it out theory is not well established; although no m- 

 considerable amount of learning has been brought to bear upon it. 

 Raising potatoes from the seed or apples, however, is said to have 

 driven away the curl in some parts of the country forty-five years 

 ago, and quite coincides with the propriety of a vigorous trial being 

 made; to raise potatoes from the healthiest seed, notwithstanding 

 those raised from the seed in this part only a few years ago, as well 

 as in other parts, has equally failed with the long cultivated varieties, 

 from all accounts I can learn. To imitate nature as far as practicable, 

 in raising potatoes for seed, is of vital importance ; and planting, 

 shallow on the flat surface would appear to comprehend this principle. 



No difference between those raised from seed and those from tu- 

 bers. 



Some years ago we got a ffew seed potatoes frora Mr. Bruce, ten- 

 ant, Greenknow, Berwick, they are known by the name of " Jacob's 

 cattle," which had been planted by Mr. Bruce and his father, during 

 the last eighty years, without one solitary instance of failure, and last 

 year the crop was perfectly free of disease. From repeated experi- 

 ments in the last five years, we have found that though nld and long 

 cultivated varieties, have been less subject to failure than the new 

 varieties raised from the apple. In point of fact, until we began to 

 raise new varieties from the apple, such a thing as failure or disease 

 was never once heard of ! 



Potatoes planted early so as to be ripe by the last of Juy, all per- 

 fectly sound. 



About eight years ago took it into my head that the failure was 

 owing to the potato having been so long planted from tubers, and I 



