206 [Assembly 



were removed. I found that the eyes of one' bushel of potatoes, 

 occupying the same amount of ground, and all other circum- 

 stances being equal, planted alongside of a bushel of whole pota- 

 toes, would yield the same number of potatoes, but not of the 

 same weight or size ; their keeping properties were not so good, 

 and they were more early attacked with disease. About the same 

 time a German method went the rounds of the agricultural pa- 

 pers. It was stated that when the potato vine was one foot high 

 its stalks should be pressed outward, laid down flatly, and 

 covered with earth, leaving the ends only exposed. When they 

 again become a foot high they should be pressed inward and again 

 covered with earth as before, leaving the ends, as before exposed, 

 and thus continue bending down and covering until the vines 

 should show blossom, when the process should be discontinued. 

 It was urged that the whole length of the stem so covered would 

 put out tubers, and that when put under such treatment could 

 be made to yield three thousand to one, being eight or more times 

 the greatest number ever procured by the old style of cultiva- 

 tion. This process I also tried, and found the number produced 

 to be immense, and fully equaling what had been claimed for it, 

 but the size and quality rendered them valueless. Even the 

 peelings of potatoes containing the eyes may be used as seed, but 

 the result will not be equal to that obtained trom whole potatoes. 

 The rationale for these differences may be understood by observ- 

 ing what takes place when the whole potato, with a perfect skin, 

 is planted. Alter the new growth such a potato will be found 

 whole, and, to all appearance, the skin perfect, unbroken, and the 

 original potato heavier than when planted, but upon a chemical 

 investigation it will be found that all the starch has been removed 

 to furnish pabulum for the growing plant, and has been replaced 

 by water, rendering this original seed potato valueless. If the 

 same observation be made upon sets or cut potatoes it will be 

 found that the fleshy part of the potato has sloughed away, form- 

 ing an acid portion of the soil in its immediate vicinity, and 

 hence not furnishing starch in a healthy condition as pabulum for 

 the new plant. The organism of the new growth, not having its 

 proper food in its early stages, is imperfect, and the vines cease 

 to bear potato balls or seeds. Practical farmers have been in the 



