262 On the Native Country of the Wild Potato, 8^c. 



Very little hairiness is perceptible on the specimen, which, if it 

 had been taken from a plant of S. tuberosum, would probably 

 have been much more hairy, as it usually is when stunted. It 

 is also somewhat singular that Commerson, who could not but 

 know the S, tuberosum and its various names, should have 

 affixed that of " Tomates" to his specimen ; this makes it almost 

 certain that he did not consider it to be the potato. On these 

 grounds I have ventured to hesitate in concurring in the opinion 

 of Mr. Lambert, that we have sufficient evidence of the growth 

 of the wild potato in the neighbourhood of the Rio de la Plata, 

 It possibly may be found there, but its existence in that part of 

 America is not proved, since it seems tolerably certain that 

 Commerson's plant is not it, and Mr. Lambert does not suppose 

 that the plants seen by his correspondent and friend were 

 different from Commerson's. 



Early in the spring of the present year, Mr. Caldcleugh, who 

 had been some time resident at Rio Janeiro, in the situation of 

 Secretary to the British Minister at that Court, where he had 

 been indefatigable in his exertions to forward the objects of the 

 Horticultural Society, returned to England, having previously 

 taken a journey across the country, and visited the principal 

 places on the western coasts of South America. Among many 

 articles of curiosity which he brought with him, were two tubers 

 of the wild potato, which he sent to me with the following 

 letter : 



Montague Place, Portman Square, Tebruary 24th, 1823. 



My dear Sir, 

 It is with no small degree of pleasure that I am enabled to 

 send you some specimens of the Solanum tuberosum, or Native 

 Wild Potato of South America. 



It is found growing in considerable quantities in ravines in 

 the immediate neighbourhood of Valparaiso, on the western 

 side of South America, in lat. 34| S. The leaves and flowers 

 of the plant are similar in every respect to those cultivated in 

 England, and elsewhere. It begins to flower in the month of 

 October, the spring of that climate, and is not very prolific. 



