On the Native Country of the Wild Potato, S^c. 263 



The roots are small and of a bitterish taste, some with red and 

 others with yellowish skins. I am inclined to think that this 

 plant grows on a large extent of the coast, for in the south of 

 Chili it is found, and called by the natives Maglia, but I cannot 

 discover that it is employed to any purpose. 



I am indebted for these specimens to an officer of His Ma- 

 jesty's ship Owen Glendower, who left the country some time 

 after me. 



I am, ray dear Sir, ever sincerely your's, 



Alexander Caldcleugh. 



The two tubers were exhibited to the Society, and a drawing 

 made of them before they were planted. Had there been a third, 

 I should have been tempted to have satisfied myself as to the 

 real flavour, which Mr. Caldcleugh, as well as Molina, describes 

 as bitter. They were planted separately in small pots, and 

 speedily vegetated ; they grew rapidly, and were subsequently 

 turned out into a border at about two feet distance from each 

 other, when they became very strong and luxuriant. The blos- 

 soms at first were but sparingly produced, but as the plants were 

 earthed up they increased in vigour, and then bore flowers 

 abundantly ; but these were not succeeded by fruit. The flower 

 was white, and differed in no respect from those varieties of the 

 common potato which have white blossoms. The leaves -vere 

 compared with specimens of several varieties of the cultivated 

 potato, which generally were rather of a more rugose and un- 

 even surface above, and with the veins stronger and more con- 

 spicuous below, but in other respects there was no diflPerence 

 between them. The pinnulse which grew on the sides of the 

 petiole, between the pinnae of the leaves, were few, not near so 

 numerous as in some varieties of the cultivated potato; but in 

 specimens of other varieties that were examined, their leaves 

 were destitute of pinnulee, so that the existence of these ap- 

 pendages does not appear to be so essential a characteristic as 

 has been supposed, and as is stated in the Supplement to the 

 Encyclopedie. 



The earth with which the plants had been moulded up had 



