72 [ ASSEMBLY 
by causing each eye to produce a stalk, or a conglomeration of stalks. 
We also remark from experiment 12 that injury to the eye, or from 
experiment 13, the breaking off of the growing shoot may cause eyes 
to develop which would otherwise remain dormant. 
From experiment 1, we have strong indications, almost approaching 
certainty, that by cutting eyes so as to include the vegetative axis we 
derive a greater yield of crop than when this vegetative axis is removed 
in the cutting. ‘That there are vital points in the potato which are 
capable of growth is shown by experiment 8, and the same experiment 
also shows that these lines of vegetative activity are coincident with a 
structure that can be easily recognized. That this region ofan internal 
branch, for thus for convenience sake we call this internal structure 
which takes on the form of a stem with branches to which the eyes 
may be likened to terminal buds, is especially favorable to growth is 
shown in a positive manner by experiment 8, wherein the peeled potato 
is found to grow from the cut surface of these branches, and in a neg- 
ative manner by experiment 5, where potato skins yield a small crop. 
We remark here, that if the potato seed be dug from the growing plant 
at the proper time, if absorption of substance has taken place, the line 
of absorption seems to follow definite tracks, and to show that in a 
measure each eye rules over its own territory. 
From experiment 2, wederive support fora hypothesis that that sys- 
tem of cultivation which allows the tubers to be formed in warm and 
dry soil, while the roots occupy a cool and moist soil, is the most ad- 
vantageous, 
We may add here, as the result of several trials, that potato plants 
from single eyes growing in the house in a soil of the same temperature 
as the air did not form tubers, but when one of these plants was re- 
moved to the outside ground, tubers immediately formed. 
From experiment 3, we derive indications that for the potato plant 
a system of cultivation which interferes with the roots isa disadvantage. 
From experiment 10, we infer that a hilling which forces upward 
growth for a long time is disadvantageous to formation of tuber. 
From experiment 14, we infer that varieties of potatoes are adapted 
to various conditions of soil, and that under unfavorable conditions 
one variety may be of far more advantage to grow than another. From 
the use of divided eyes for seed, on rich soil, detailed in experiment 1, 
we may infer that exceedingly favorable conditions in one direction 
may offset unfavorable conditions in another direction. 
FoRAGE CROPS. 
In the spring season, various kinds of seed of sorghums, teosinte, 
cow peas, pearl millet, etc., were secured in order to test: the value of 
their varieties for the purposes of forage. 
The sorghum seed was obtained from Prof. Peter Collier, chemist 
to the Department of Agriculture, at Washington, and comprised six- | 
teen kinds. The Dhoura was obtained of a seedsman. ‘The seed was 
sown in drills, fonr feet apart, on June 3, the seed being distributed as 
uniformly as possible along the rows. All the varieties, except Dhoura, 
vegetated on June 15: the Dhoura on June 20, The other particu- 
lars may be represented in tabular form: 
