ON THE CURL tN POTATOES. QQQ 



is only by sowing the seeds that we obtain new varieties. 

 But if the seeds be taken from any particular variety, that May be effect- 

 is wished to be preserved, and if care be exercised, that ^ d itl ^ y c ^J ds 

 the plants shall have no communication with the farina of 

 any other plants of the same species in flower, then the 

 produce of these seeds will probably be the same, or nearly 

 the same, with that variety from which the seeds were 

 saved; and from the seed-stock being renewed and reinvi- 

 gorated in this way, it seems likely, that the variety so 

 obtained may, by observing a proper management, be pre- 

 served from the curl or any other kind of degeneracy, for 

 any length of time. 



I shall presume, that the principal cause of the curl in Curl produced 



the potato is the overripening of the seed-stock for thesuD- by usingover ' 

 , e ., ... v n P e potatoes 



ply ot the ensuing year, by allowing it to remain too long for sets. 



in the ground, and especially if it be also planted early; 

 this practice, being repeated for several years successively, 

 causes an exhaustion of the vegetative principle in the tu- 

 bers, which renders them totally unfit to produce vigorous 

 healthy plants; and is the principal cause of the disease. 

 This doctrine has almost uniformly been objected to by Objection to 

 many very intelligent agriculturists and gardeners, as being ,his hypothesis 

 quite contrary to our experience in regard to seeds in ge- 

 neral; full ripeness being considered the best recommen-' 

 dation. But this objection, I apprehend, arises from the answered, 

 taking an improper view of the subject. It is true, that 

 all of what are properly called seeds are improved, by 

 being thoroughly ripened; but cuts or sets, taken from the 

 tubers of a potato, cannot, strictly speaking, come under 

 the description of seeds. Planting cuts of the potato is 

 analogous to budding or grafting of trees, being only a 

 secondary mode of propagation ; and, consequently, the ' 



above-mentioned objection does not hold good. This doc- Growth of po- 

 trine maybe farther illustrated, by observing the strong tatoes raise * 

 tendency, which potatoes raised from seeds have to run to 

 flower and seed, unless prevented, by destroying these as 

 they appear, and by earthing up the roots of the plant, so 

 as to induce them to throw out tubers. This natural dis- 

 position of plants raised from seeds will remain for several 

 generations of the plant, gradually yielding to the artificial 

 Z 2 means 



