Influence Of Soil On Seedlings

The characteristics of a potato, such as quality, productiveness,

healthfulness, uniformity of size, etc., depend much on the nature of

the soil on which it originated. These characteristics, some or all,

imbibed by the minute potato from the ingredients of the soil, at its

first growth from the seed of the potato-ball, adhere with great

tenacity to it through all its generations. A seedling may, in size,

color, and form resemble its parent; but its constitution and quality

are in a great degree dependent on the nature of the soil, climatic

influences, and other accidental causes.



True crosses are generally more vigorous and healthy than others; and it

is probably to accidental crosses we are indebted for many varieties

that differ so widely from their parents. A cross is most apparent to

the eye when the parents are of different colors, in which case the

offspring will be striped or marked with the colors of each parent.