Discussion on Professor Lemmon's Paper. 14^' 



succeeded in flowering it. Col. Henry Innian, of our State, familiar 

 with the habits of the native New Mexican, has told me that they 

 attempt to eat these tubers, but find them a violent purgative, and 

 unhealthy. I would like to ask Prof. Leramon, if out-door plant- 

 ing would, more likely, produce flowers in the Central States? 



3Ir. Gaywood,of 'New York — If there is anything in the improve- 

 ment of this tuber not accompanying the improvement of the South 

 American species, we want to know it. I am emphatically of the 

 opinion that we will need to depend on the wild tuber, as our culti- 

 vated sorts are failing. Varieties are constantly running out. Year 

 after year they are failing, simply because the planting of the tuber 

 is the reproduction of the plant and not of the species. 



Prof. Lemmon, of California — In answer to Prof. Popenoe, I 

 would say that seed-bolls are readily found on plants grown out of 

 doors. I can not positively say that the product of our wild plants 

 will produce more hardy sorts, but we may hope so, as many varie- 

 ties are made delicate only by long and careless cultivation. 



Mr. Caywood — Do you think that cutting the tubers of potatoes 

 for planting tends to early degeneracy of the variety ? 



Prof Lemmon — Yes, such is the verdict of the best authorities. 

 Cutting the tubers certainly weakens the vitality of the plant. 



llr. VanDeman, of Kansas — Will freezing, out of the ground, 

 kill these potatoes? The Colorado potato beetle attacks many spe- 

 cies of the Solanum. I do not see why it will not feed upon these. 



Prof. Lemmon — Many of the questions which you are propound- 

 ing to me can be answered only by careful experimentation. 



3Ir. Braokett, of Kansas — The point raised by Prof. Popenoe is 

 a good one, and I think is a law in horticulture. When we obtain 

 quality in these potatoes, it will, probably, have been at the expense 

 of hardiness. We will then be where we are to-day. 



Mr. Hcwrington, of Michigan — I have some South American po- 

 tatoes in my collection at the Exposition, which have obtained con- 

 siderable size. 



Mr. VanDeman — Are you sure, Mr. Harrington, that you have- 

 crossed the Solanum Jamesii with Mammoth Pearl? 



Mr. Harrington — I am not sure; yet I think I have.. 



