446 MR. A. W. SUTTON ON WILD FORMS AND 
Notes on some Wild Forms and Species gf TUBER-BEARING SOLANUMS, 
By Автнсв W. Surtby, ILS. 
(PLATES 38-49.) 
[Read 20th February, 1908. ] 
Ix 1883, Mr. J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S., at the suggestion of the late 
Lord Catheart, made a study of the various species of tuber-bearing Solanums, 
the resuits of which were embodied in a paper presented to the Society on 
January 17th, 1884 *, | 
Lord Catheart was interested chiefly in the discovery of some wild species 
Solanum which could be utilized for crossing with the 
commonly cultivated potato, in the hope of obtaining new forms c: 
resisting the attacks of the potato-disease fungus 
It was concluded that Solanum Maglia of Schlechtendal, generally known 
as Darwin's potato, afforded the best prospeet of success in the direc 
this species does not appear to suffer from the disease in its indigenous 
habitat in the low-lying swampy soil of the Chonos Archipelago, whereas the 
ordinary potato is praetically destroyed by the fungus on wet soils in damp 
seasons, 
On August 6th, 1886, I obtained tubers of Solanum Maglia from a plant 
growing in the gardens at Kew, the tubers being dug up in the presence of 
Mr. Baker and myself. 
(Plate 38. Flowers, foliage, &с., of Solanum Maglia, Schlecht 
living specimen grown at Reading.)—This species, so far 
goes, does not produce fertile seeds when 
although it blooms very freely, the flowe 
hundreds of attempts were made to fertilize Maglia flowers with the pollen 
from cultivated potatoes, but in one instance only was a hybrid seedling 
obtained, the latter being the produce of a cross made in July 1887, 
The hybrid, which has been cultivated continuously during the past 20 years 
has smooth tubers nearly white in skin (the tubers of Solanum 
dull, dark purple colour), with leaflets more pointed th 
potatoes. 
of tuber-bearing 
ipable of 
, Phytophthora infestans. 
tion, since 
„ drawn from 
as my experience 
pollinated with its own pollen : 
rs drop off prematurely, Many 
Maglia are а 
an those of cultivated 
In addition to experiments with Solanum Maglia, crosses we 
with Solanum Jamesii, but from none of these were seedlings obtained. 
Resembling Solanum Maglia in its general refusal to set “seed” either 
when pollinated with its own pollen or with that from othe 
Commersonii of Dunal. 
re attempted 
r species, is Solanum 
(Plate 89. Solanum Commersonti, Dun., whit 
e-flowered form, foliage, 
flowers, &c.)—Two forms of this species are known ; one bearing lilae 
* See Journ, Linn. Soc., Bot. vol. xx. (1854) pp. 489-507. 
