By Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq. 97 



leaves, which are shaded, become inefficient and useless, a sufficient 

 degree of strength and rigidity in the stems to enable them to 

 retain their foliage in its first position is very important ; though I 

 believe that this circumstance has not hitherto attracted the atten- 

 tion of any cultivator of the Potatoe. 



The tubers of other varieties, which were in all other respects 

 apparently good, were defective in specific gravity; and con- 

 sequently aqueous and worthless; and in others, veins of a red 

 colour extended into the body of the tubers, and gave an unplea- 

 sant colour to their meal, which was in some other respects of very 

 good quality. But I have obtained several varieties, which do not 

 blossom, and which are as far as I am at present capable of judging, 

 without any particular defect, though I am far from thinking I pos- 

 sess any variety, which has even approximated to the greatest state 

 of perfection, which the species is capable of attaining. 



I have succeeded in obtaining, as I wished, some varieties which 

 vegetate early, and others late, in the spring. Those of the first 

 mentioned habit will generally be found to afford the largest pro- 

 duce by having the advantages of a longer summer, but it is de- 

 sirable to possess varieties of less excitable habits : because such 

 usually remain good till a later period in the spring ; when good 

 vegetables are not always readily obtainable. I have also suc- 

 ceeded in obtaining varieties which do not vegetate till late in the 

 spring, and which nevertheless acquire perfect or rather early ma- 

 turity in autumn, and there are probably climates in which such 

 varieties would be peculiarly valuable ; and the ductility, and obe- 

 dience, of this species of plant to human will is so great, that I 

 doubt whether by the creation and selection of proper varieties, as 

 abundant a produce might not be obtained, within the limits of the 

 frigid zone, as in the torrid zone, of which the Potatoe is a native. 

 The weather in some parts of the coast of Norway, within the 



VOL. I. 2nd series. O 



