592 NOTES ON THE COMMON NIGHTSHADE, 



by SonnenscbeiiVs reagent. If it is necessary to isolate and 

 purify the alkaloid for identification, it would be necessary to 

 work on not less than 20 to 25 pounds of Wonderberries." 



It will be seen from the above report, that the evidence points 

 to solanine being present, so that it would seem to me advisable 

 to discontinue the cultivation of this fruit for edible purposes. 

 Especially when we read in Henry's work ("The Plant Alka- 

 loids, p.434, 1913) that "the physiological action of solanine 

 destroys red blood-corpuscles." It would seem from the follow- 

 ing particulars given by G roth (37) that the "Prairie Berry" (*S'. 

 nigrum, form or strain) is apparent!}^ the same as *S'. guineense, 

 and that he also regards it as a useful commodity together with 

 two other varieties as follows :— '' Red-fruited *S'. nit/rum auran- 

 tiacum, Green-fruited S. itigrum ch/orocarpum The green- 

 fruited variety has a sweet, pleasant flavour, strongly resembling 

 the 'orange flavour' sold in packages for flavouring cornstarch 

 puddings. It is, however, so soft that it cannot be picked, much 

 less shipped, without mashing. I'he "Prairie Berry" has an 

 insipid, somewhat disagreeable flavour when ripe, but it makes 

 excellent preserves. It is so tough that it will keep for a month 

 after being picked, and can be shipped to any distance. Both 

 are good bearers. It is likely that sooner or later a plant will 

 appear which will combine all these characters and breed true 

 to them. If so, it will be preserved; but, as stated above, there 

 is no fund available under which systematic work could be done 

 with the object in view of establishing such a desirable type. 

 Such a lierry, coming at a season when no other berries are on 

 the market (October), and when coal fires are kept going in the 

 kitchens, would present a preserving berry of great value to the 

 State." In England, a good deal of interest has been taken in 

 connection with the " Wonderberry, " as will be seen by the fol- 

 lowing abstracts. 



In the Gardeners' Chronicle, October 31st, p. 291 (1901), it is 

 stated that " three forms of >S'. niyrum (including >S'. yuineense 

 or so-called " Wonderberry") were sent to Dr. Greshofl\ of 

 Haarlem, for chemical investigation, and in his reports he states 

 that all three forms contain solanine — the British form having 



