BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. F.G.S., &C. 777 



where vegetables are so few, it is a valuable addition to the 

 culinary resources. In Japan no vegetable is of such service. From 

 June to September inclusive, it crowds the markets and shops, 

 and is seen on every table, and with tlie Japanese modes of 

 c joking it is certainly very palatable. There are many varieties 

 differing mostly in shape, for the deep purple colour prevails in all. 

 They are shaped like bananas or like pears, but the large variety 

 in Japan is balloon-shaped, three and four inches long, and as 

 much in diameter. The thin white margin round the fruit at its 

 junction with the calyx makes it exceedingly pretty. The species 

 thrives well in Australia, as I know from experience, and at 

 present we have no vegetable to compare with it ; yet it is not used. 



170. SoLANUM TUBEROSUM, L. Ubi, Malay ; Patata amongst the 

 natives in the Pliilippines ; Chinese, Shu ; Japanese, Jagatara- 

 imo. Potatoes of excellent quality are grown in the volcanic soils 

 of the Philippines. The introduction of this plant into the islands 

 is diiiicult to trace ; I made many enquiries but could find no trace 

 in the Spanish literature. The history of the potato has been 

 made the subject of especial study by De Candolle, and perhaps 

 I may be allowed to insert here a summary of his conclusions : — 

 " (1) That the potato is wild in Chili in a form still seen in our 

 cultivated plants. (2) It is very doubtful whether its natui'al home 

 extends to Peru and New Granada. (3) Its cultivation was 

 difi'used before the discovery of America from Chili to New 

 Granada, (4) It was introduced in the latter half of the 16th 

 century into that part of the United Stales now known as 

 Virginia and North Carolina. (5) It was imported into Europe 

 between 1580 and 1585, first by the Spaniards and afterwards 

 by the English at the time of Raleigh's Voyages to Virginia." 



171. SoLANUM FEROX, L. Karon-dung, Sundanese. A common 

 shrub in India, Java, Borneo, &c., but probably introduced as 

 it is cultivated. A thorny plant with globular berries an inch or 

 more in diameter. 



172. SoLANUM SANCTUM, L. Another cultivated species intro- 

 duced from Palestine. Fruit small and globular. 



