354 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of physalis in cultivation. It is exceedingly variable, and it appears as if 

 distinct varieties can be readily bred from it. We nave grown it under 

 two or three names. It is usually called, though erroneously, Physalis 

 edulis. This name is misleading, for the fruit is really scarcely edible 

 because of its very pronounced mawkish flavor. The fruit is far the 

 largest and handsbmist of any physalis which I have grown, and it is not 

 improbable that we may be able to obtain a desirable variety from it. 

 The plant is exceedingly productive, and adapts itself to almost any soil 

 or condition. It grows erect to a height of three or four feet, bearing 

 smooth branches and leaves. The leaves are thin, ovate or lance-ovate 

 and variously toothed or notched. The flowers are large and open (f inch 

 or more across), the border bright yellow and the throat bearing five black- 

 brown spots; anthers purplish. The husk is entirely filled by the large, 

 round, sticky berry, and is sometimes torn open by it. 



This plant is supposed to be native to South America or the West 

 Indies. It was early grown in gardens, perhaps because of its supposed 

 medicinal properties. Dr. Sherard obtained it in Holland in the last 

 century and grew it in his garden at Eltham, England, and Dillenius 

 figured it in 1774. Martyn described it in 1807, but says nothing about 

 its uses. An interesting feature of the plant is its great variability. 

 Dillenius figured the leaves as nearly entire, and Dunal, who named the 

 plant, so describes them; but the greater part of the cultivated specimens 

 have conspicuously toothed leaves. 



We have tried a number of interesting experiments with this species. 

 A year ago one plant appeared in our plantation which bore profusely of 

 unusually large and purple fruits, and which was very dwarf and stocky in 

 habit. The plant was so attractive that we saved seeds of it. All the 

 plants this year were entirely unlike the parent, being very tall growers 

 and bearing an ordinary crop of medium green-husked fruits. But the 

 most singular circumstance was the fact that while the plants were all 

 unlike the parent, they were nevertheless very like each other! In other 

 words, there was almost no variation in the offspring. Now, alongside these 

 plants were sown unselected seeds, and from them we secured scarcely two 

 plants alike. The first plant in the row, for instance, was low and strag- 

 gling (only 16 inches high), the branches lying almost horizontal; the 

 leaves were small and the branches green. The second plant in the row 

 was erect (growing 3 ft. high), with large leaves and purple branches. 

 The first nine plants represented nine very different types, the differences 

 being, in some cases, even greater than those which ordinarily distinguish 

 well-marked varieties of cultivated plants. Numerous attempts have been 

 made to cross-pollinate this species, but without success. 



In conclusion we may say that three species of physalis or husk tomato 

 are cultivated for fruit. One of these, variously known as the strawberry 

 tomato, golden husk tomato, dwarf cape gooseberry, and improved ground 

 cherry, is well worth growing in the home garden. The true cape goose- 

 berry is too late for this latitude. The pepper-leaved physalis, erroneously 

 known as Physalis edulis, is unfit for general cultivation for fruit, although 

 it is an interesting plant to the experimenter. 



L. H. Bailey. 



