AS FOREST CULTURE AND 
grance. To this the S. Plumierii, Dun., from the West 
Indian Islands, is also cognate, and the 8. Topiro, 
Kunth, from the Orinoco. 
Solanum tuberosum, L.*—The Potato. Andes of 
South America, particularly of Chile, but not absolute- 
ly trans-equatorial, as it extends into Columbia. It 
is also wild in the Argentine territory. As a starch- 
plant, the potato interests us on this occasion particu- 
larly. Considering its prolific yield in our richer soil, 
we possess, as yet, too few factories for potato-starch. 
The latter, by being heated with mineral acids or malt, 
can be converted into Dextrin and Dextro-glucose, for 
many purposes of the arts. Dextrin, as a substitute 
for gum, is also obtainable by subjecting potato-starch 
in a dry state to a heat of 400° F. Alcohol may be 
largely produced from the tubers. The berries and 
shoots contain Solanin. 
Solanum torvum, Swartz. — From West India to 
Peru. A shrubby species, with yellow, spherical ber- 
ries of good size, which seemalso wholesome. Other 
species from tropical America have shown themselves 
sufficiently hardy for inducing us to recommend the 
test-culture of such kinds of plants. Many of them 
are highly curious and ornamental. 
Solanum Uporo, Dunal.—In many of the islands of 
the Pacific Ocean. The large, red, spherical berries 
of this shrub can be used like the tomato. 
Solanum vescum, F. v. Mueller. — The Gunyang. 
South-east Australia. A shrub yielding edible ber- 
ries, which need, however, to be fully ripe for secur- 
ing absence of deleterious properties. 
Solanum xanthocarpum, Schrad. and Wendl.—North 
Africa and South Asia. A perennial herb. The ber- 
