Solane@.] THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS, 281 
stations in the respective seasons, Henbane, Datura Stramonium, and Nicandra indica, 
were successfully grown, and afterwards converted into extract for experiment, and 
subsequently for the Medical Depéts. The extract of Henbane particularly was highly 
approved of by several medical officers, and pronounced by Mr. Twining, after trial in 
the General Hospital of Calcutta, to be of “ most excellent quality.” In the same 
places and seasons, the Belladonna, Foxglove, and Hemlock, could be equally well 
grown, with many other plants requiring a similar climate. 
But a plant, second hardly to any in point of importance in furnishing food for man, . 
requiring also the same climates, has been introduced into the same countries. This is 
the Potatoe, for which India, as well as the rest of the Old World, is indebted to the 
New World. It has been found in a wild state, in 33° of S. latitude, in Chili, in the 
mountains near Valparaiso and Mendoza, and also near Lima, Quito, and Santa Fé 
de Bagota ; but in these situations it is supposed to have escaped from a state of culti- 
vation, as the illustrious Humboldt argues that it must have travelled north in ‘ the 
course followed by the Incas in their conquests.” But as it was introduced into England 
from Virginia in 1586 by Sir W. Raleigh, and not known to the Mexicans in the time 
_of Montezuma, he concludes it as probable, that if the English colonies did not 
receive it from South America, this plant was originally wild in some country of the 
northern hemisphere, as it was in Chili. This conjecture has been singularly confirmed 
by the Potatoe being found wild on the Pic d’Orizaba by Deppe and Schiede. (D. Don). 
The Potatoe, we are informed by Dr. Ainslie, was introduced into India from the 
Cape of Good Hope, and some of excellent quality are produced in the Mysore 
country, particularly at Bangalore and Nundydroog. They are grown all over India 
(Roxb.), and of a very fine quality in the cold weather, or from October to March, 
along the plains of India from Patna to Loodiana. Dr.Wallich states, that ‘ they are 
planted in the valleys and lower hills of Nepal, so as to afford fresh crops all the year 
round: the roots are planted in February, June, and November, and gathered after 
three months.” They were introduced into the northern mountains, and grown in the 
neighbourhood of Simla, at an elevation of near 7,500 feet; and by Major Young, on 
the mountains north of Deyra, at an elevation of 6,700 feet ; so that Mussooree made its 
first appearance on the map by the name of the Potatoe Garden. Their quality was 
subsequently much improved by Captain Townsend raising some from seed, which in 
the third year became of enormous size, and of very good quality. They are now 
becoming very generally cultivated, both in the hills and plains of Northern India ; 
and it is fortunate both for sellers aud consumers, that those grown in the former come 
in when the others are going out of season. Potatoes are in some places becoming adopted 
as food by the natives of India, though more slowly than could be wished; at this we 
need not be surprised, as even in France their use was not generally adopted until after 
their introduction into Europe more than two hundred years, and then only owing to 
the persevering efforts of the philanthropic Parmentier, round whose tomb, in Pere la 
Chaise, they are now yearly planted: so that M. Fée remarks, ‘ verité frappante, 
20 toujours 
