NOTES ON THE WILD POTATO. 65 



It will be observed, that those forwarded in heat and trans- 

 planted, gave a better produce ^^■ith a less proportion diseased 

 than those sown at once in the open ground. Nos. 1, 2, 4, and 

 5, transplanted, gave on the average 2 tons 14 cwt. 10 lbs. of 

 sound produce estimated per acre ; and of the total produce 

 14-46, or very nearly 14+ per cent., was diseased. The results 

 of Nos. 3, 6, 1, 8, 9, sown in the open ground, were at tlie rate 

 of 1 ton 6 cwt. 80 lbs. of sound produce ; and of their total pro- 

 duce upwards of 44 per cent, was diseased. When sown in the 

 open ground, the seeds of course must be near the surface, and 

 the roots are consequently more shallow than is the case where 

 the seedlings are transplanted. But whatever mode may be 

 adopted, it is evident that no good result, as immediately regards 

 the disease, is likely to be derived from sowing seeds. Nor can 

 it be said that of all the experiments thus detailed any one has 

 proved so effectual in stopping the disease as to offer satisfac- 

 tory proof that a perseverance in it would be advantageous. 



XIU.— Notes on the Wild Potato. By John Lindley, Ph. D., 



F.R.S., Vice-Secretary. 

 Among the speculations that have been entertained respecting 

 the Potato disease, one consisted in the belief, that in order to be 

 secure against its future ravages, it was only necessary to bring 

 the plant once more from its native country, and begin over 

 again the process of domesticating it. 



Before entering upon this experiment, it was necessary to 

 ascertain with certainty what the native country of the Potato 

 really is ; for it did not appear probable that domesticated Po- 

 tatoes, although brought from the regions in which the plant is 

 wild, would be exempt; nor indeed could experiments with va- 

 rieties already affected by domestication satisfy the conditions of 

 the problem. The soundness of the opinion just expressed is 

 sufficiently shown by the highly diseased condition of New 

 Grenada Potatoes, cultivated in England in 1847, and by the 

 result of an exjieriment in the Society's Garden in 1847 upon 

 the golden Potatoes of Peru. In the autumn of 1846, a barrel of 

 this variety was liberally given to the Society by Messrs. Gibbs, 

 Bright, and Co., of Liverpool. The tubers were planted in Nov. 

 1846. When they appeared above ground it was found, that 

 besides the Golden Potato of a yellowish colour, with yellow 

 flesh, there were two others — one having bright rose-coloured 

 blossoms, with red roots and tubers ; the other large purplish 

 blossoms and round mottled tubers. The Golden variety was 

 much diseased, nearly one-third of the crop being affected. The 



VOL, iir. 



