154 
The deductions to be made from the two experiments: 
just noted are: 
Ist. That by cutting large tubers for seed, we lose the 
alvantage of large size, and perhaps more, through the 
detrimental influence of the cutting. At least this infer- 
ence is warrantable when the cuttings are planted as soon 
as cut. 
2nd. If cutting is to be practiced, it is advahtageous to. 
expose the pieces for a time to the air before planting. 
The reasons for the results obtained are not clear in either: 
case. ‘The skin of the tuber furnishes a very great protec- 
tion against loss by evaporation, as was shown by a series of - 
experiments. In one case a cut tuber placed on the mantel in 
the office lost more than 25 per cent. of its weight in the time 
that a whole one lost but about one per cent. In another 
case a cut tuber lost more than 43 per cent., while a whole 
one lost less than one. Whole tubers, and those cut in 
varying degrees placed in a box of dry earth lost in weight 
in proportion to the amount of cut surface exposed. But 
this solution is hardly applicable to the present case, be- 
cause during the period of vegetation (about 20 days) one 
and a half inches of rain fell, coming on five different days, 
and hence there could hardly have been a dearth of moisture 
in the soil. We do not know how much the plant depends. 
upon the seed tuber or cutting after it has started into 
growth. During the latter part of May and the first half 
of June, the soil became very dry at times, and it is possi- 
ble that during this period the effect of the cutting proved 
injurious. : 
So, in the second experiment, the influence of the drying 
does not seem to have. been exerted during the period of 
vegetation, because the dried cuttings did not vegetate 
earlier than the fresh ones. The starting of the eyes does 
not appear to be favored by drying, at least not in the 
spring, because it was noted that potatoes stored in the 
cellar in bags during the winter where the moisture was. 
sufficient to decay the bags, were decidedly more sprouted 
at planting time than others stored in a comparatively dry . 
room. ‘The subject is one of interest, and merits further 
investigation. 
DO POTATOES GROW MORE REGULAR IN FORM WHEN ONLY 
WELL FORMED TUBERS ARE USED FOR SEED ? 
~ This is a question of considerable importance to the 
potato grower. ‘The answer, however, may depend upon 
several conditions. So far as the cause of mal-formed 
tubers is due to inheritance, it may doubtless be lessened 
by selection. But if the irregularity is the result of soil or 
