26 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



23551 to 23623 Continued. 

 23551 to 23577 -Continued. 



23560. While, round. Flesh deep yellow. 



23561. Red, elongated, Irregular. 



23562. Red, oblong. Irregular. 



23563. Pink, elongated, regular. 



23564. Purple, round, one specimen knobby, regular. 



23565. White around eyes, balance purple, round, flattened, 

 regular. 



23566. Purple, round, regular. 



23567. White, round, regular. 



23568. White, round, regular. 



23569. White, elongated, regular. 



23570. White, round, regular in size, irregular in shape. 



23571. Purple, elongated or round, irregular. 



23572. White, blotched with pink, round, irregular. 



23573. Dark, mottled with purple, round, irregular. 



23574. White, oblong, very irregular and knobby. 



23575. White, round, regular. 



23576. White, round, regular. Flesh deep yellow. 



23577. White, elongated, flattened. 



23578 to 23623. 



" The following represent varieties of good potatoes of wild origin 

 from the archipelago before named. There are no duplicates; if they 

 are alike, they came from distant parts and were grown under such 

 distinct conditions as to location, soil, moisture, plant food, etc., as to 

 entitle them to new classification. The smallest that were suitable for 

 seed were collected for economy of space, which is very limited when 

 collecting tours are made on horseback. There are all sorts — white, yel- 

 low, pink, etc., fleshed. The yellow, and some white ones, are inclined 

 to sweetness and are of extra fine flavor. If they retain their native 

 merits when planted in such a distant home, you will get almost any 

 result you seek. I have, how r ever, proved to my satisfaction that extreme 

 changes in localities and conditions influence and alter flavor, size, and 

 shape. Many improve, others deteriorate. The red-skinned classes sent 

 are bad forms, but are very fine sorts to eat. Their names are of no 

 value, as they are local Chilote Indian names ; often the same potato 

 has a different name in every locality where grown. Some of these are 

 seedlings of the second and third years' growth. These will improve in 

 shape, size, and flavor by planting; at least they would do so if planted 

 in Chile. Long cultivation has made the others standard sorts, which 

 hold their own (in Chile) with indefinite continued sowing. It will be 

 strange if some of these will not have an affinity with your conditions. 

 Among these you will find some extra early, others late, mostly medium 

 early ; some with a very small plant growth, others rank. While all 

 the flowers are true Solanum, they are of many different sorts and colors. 

 Some roots spread largely and yield on new growth also ; others stay in 

 their proper places. Generally speaking, all are very productive and 

 yield from 40 to 120 for one; 60 per plant would be a safe average. 

 Another feature is their uniformity in size and shape. All these have 

 grown dry in short summers; that is, w T ith natural earth moisture and 

 the extra heavy marine dews. I do not believe such tubers have ever 

 been tested so far inland as Iowa. That they will reproduce themselves 

 I have little hope. In my opinion they will be much better or worse ; 

 as likely to be one as the other. From experiments I have made in 

 Chile, this is foretold. No one knows results, as no one has ever at- 

 tempted such experiments as you will make, i. e., from seaward to such 

 a far distance inland. I have gained better results from inland to sea- 

 ward. If you were to send me potatoes from Iowa and ask me to plant 

 148 



