Proceedings of the Farmer^ Club. 421 



thoughts which are very suggestive, and will repay perusal. Af:er 

 a few words of introduction, he proceeds as follows: 



During the life of every potato plant there should be progressive 

 development, from germination to maturity; ever having a positive 

 tendency to perfection, in accordance with the intelligent design 

 of the vital principle, and under its domination. There is some 

 marsfin in which uesrative tendencies are tolerated, and in which 

 recuperation is possible, but beyond that margin is death and 

 decomposition. 



A potato plant of a given variety should have its components in 

 certain proportions, and those proportions should be intelligently 

 modified and distributed to its constituent organs, according to 

 their respective requirements. The same balance of proportions 

 should be common to all plants of that variety, at an equal stage 

 of development. Any superfluity or deficiency creates disturbance, 

 deterioration and negative tendency. When a potato plant has 

 successfully progressed through all the stages of natural develop- 

 ment, and is fully ripe, then it is perfect, and not otherwise. Then 

 inhalation ceases; evaporation of aqueous vapor commences; the 

 vegetable juices thicken and recede; circulation stops; the calix 

 hardens; the leaves wither and die; then dry up the stem, from 

 the apex downward, and the roots, from their extremities. As this 

 withering process advances by evaporation, there is a determination 

 of the thickening juices to the tubers, laden with material intelli- 

 gently designed to be garnered up for the succeeding generation. 



In this place, I wish to call your attention to the fact that iron 

 plays a very important part in the growth of potatoes. And when 

 the ripened plant dries up and dies, as just above stated, the major 

 part of the iron of the whole plant, in combination with other 

 substances, is driven into the tubers for future use. If the product 

 of potatoes has been augmented by cultivation, the shares of iron 

 to be stored in the respective tubers must be below the natmal 

 requirements. 



A cycle of the vital principle remains with each tuber to pre- 

 serve its germs and stores untU the season comes around for a 

 renewal of activities. If when we plant, the temperature and 

 humidity is equal to the requirements, the operations of nature 

 commence. The germ expands, and presently draws sustenance 

 from the stores in the set. Eootlets put out to seek nutriment 

 in the ground, and the sprout struggles upward to gather treasures 

 from the atmosphere and the light. 



