196 On the Potato as. National Diet, 



very little doubt that the theory of the late Mr. Knight, of 

 Dowuton, President of the Horticultural Society, was well 

 founded — namely, that propagation by graft is only the 

 perpetuation of the individual. All apples increased by this 

 method after a time die away ; and so in the case of pinks 

 and tulips, and all tubers, they die off. Early varieties of 

 the dahlia even are not to be prolonged — partly, no doubt, 

 because the gardener finds his advantage in raising new 

 sorts ; but partly, also, because old varieties disappear from 

 the operation of natural laws. It is a fact well known 

 that the American blight, so destructive to apple trees, 

 attacks old sorts, and that some varieties are free from 

 them. Eeasoning upon analogy, there can be little doubt 

 that, to continue to grow good healthy potatoes, we should 

 be prudent in resorting to seed from time to time. I know 

 that it may be objected that the vine has been propagated 

 from cuttings for thousands of years, yet shows no de- 

 terioration : it is a sufficient answer for me, that in most 

 plants the rule seems to be otherwise, — and this may be an 

 exception. 



Many plants are selected by the florist and horticulturist 

 because of their sporting tendencies. The potato is a plant 

 of versatile disposition — how else could it be believed that 

 the " ox-noble" is the same species as the " ash -leaved 

 kidney ?" 



Now, it seems very desirable that in this new country some 

 new varieties of potatoes should be raised from seed ; and 

 it ought not to be left in the hands of the market- 

 gardener, whose interests, however obviously they may lead 

 him to cultivate a favourite sort, whose excellence is well 

 known and acknowledged, are just as plainly opposed to the 

 great loss of time, attention, and labour involved during 

 several years spent in bringing the tuber to a sufficient 

 size, in ascertaining its value, and establishing for it a 



