COMMUNICATIONS. 



THE CULTIVATION OF THE POTATO— ITS NATURAL 



HISTORY. 



BT EDWARD MASON, GREENFIELD, WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 



In writing this ti-eatise, I propose to give a short sketch of the Natu- 

 ral History of the potato, and of the manner of its introduction as a 

 cultivated plant ; and then to describe what science and practice have 

 performed, in bringing its cultivation to the highest degree of perfection. 



The Province of Quito, in Peru, is said to be the native soil of the 

 potato. In this elevated region, it is still found in its natural state, with 

 leaves much smaller than the cultivated plant, with white blossoms, and 

 small, ill-flavored tubers. 



In Botany, it belongs to the Lirmean Class, Pentandria, under the 

 name of Solanum Tuberosum, This term was first given by Gerard, 

 an old Enghsh Botanist, who, in his Herbal, published in 1597, has 

 given a plate of the plant, as "Solanum Tuberosum, the Virginian 

 Potato." 



In the natural system of Botany, it is placed in the 46th ordei-, 

 among the Solanacea or Nightshades — of these Doctor Lindley says : 

 "they are all more or less poisonous; even those which are food, like the 

 potato, have their share of deleterious matter, but not in the parts which 

 are eaten." The leaves and stems of potatoes have frequently proved 

 fatal to sheep. 



The geographical distribution of the potato, may be confined to th« 

 gigantic mountain ranges of Pei'u and Chili, but the industry and «d- 

 t«rprise of man have spread it over the face of the earth. 



