By Joseph Sabine, Esq. 



255 



border at about two feet distance from each other, when they 

 became very strong and luxuriant. The blossoms at first 

 were but sparingly produced, but as the plants were earthed 

 up they increased in vigour, and then bore flowers abun- 

 dantly ; but these were not succeeded by fruit. A drawing 

 of a branch was made by Miss Cotton, which has been en- 

 graved (see Plate XII.) The flower was white, and differed 

 in no respect from those varieties of the common Potatoe 

 which have white blossoms. The leaves were compared with 

 specimens of several varieties of the cultivated Potatoe, which 

 generally were rather of a more rugose and uneven surface 

 above, and with the veins stronger and more conspicuous 

 below, but in other respects there was no difference between 

 them. The pinnulae which grew on the sides of the petiole, 

 between the pinnae of the leaves, were few, not near so nu- 

 merous as in some varieties of the cultivated Potatoe ; but in 

 specimens of other varieties that were examined, their leaves 

 were destitute of pinnulae, so that the existence of these 

 appendages does not appear to be so essential a characteristic 

 as has been supposed, and as is stated in the Supplement to 

 the Encyclopedic 



The earth with which the plants had been moulded up 

 had been applied in considerable quantity, so as to form a 

 ridge, the sides of which were full two feet high ; and about 

 the month of August runners from the roots and joints of the 

 covered stems protruded themselves towards the surface of 

 the ridge in great numbers, and when they reached the light, 

 formed considerable stems, bearing leaves and blossoms, so 

 that at length the two plants became one mass of many ap- 

 parently different plants issuing from all sides of the ridge. 



