14 ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF OUR GARDEN VEGETABLES. 



For special details as to verification of names, &c., the reader is referred 

 to the articles themselves. 



Solanum tuber osum is the name Linnaeus fixed for the cultivated 

 potato, but much discussion has taken place as to the correct botanical 

 species. One called Solanum Maglia (figured in the " Hort. Trans.," 

 vol. v. PI. 11, p. 240) and described as S. tuberosum (wild potato), is 

 the same as that found by Darwin in the Chonos Archipelago. Mr. 



FIG. 5. STEM AXD FOLIAGE or THE POTATO PLANT, AFTER CLUSIUS. 

 (Gard. Chron.) 



Baker, however, does not regard this as the real origin of the potato, 

 which is a native of Chile and Peru. 



With regard to the nutritive value of potatos, they are very deficient 

 in nitrogenous ingredients or flesh-formers, and can therefore be used 

 only as a farinaceous addition to meat. There is 75 per cent, of water, 

 the rest being mainly starch (18 per cent.), the albuminoids only 

 amounting to 1*2 per cent. The nutritive ratio is 1 : 1-7, and the nutrient 

 value 22. Sir A. H. Church adds that, according to Frankland, 1 Ib. of 

 potatos will supply force in doing external work to the amount of raising 

 124 tons one foot. 



