SOME INTERESTING FAILURES 



trait suggested that it might possibly be crossed 

 to advantage with other species. But allliough 

 several crosses were effected with oilier species 

 of the potato, nothing of value came of them. 



An allied species, however, namely the 

 Solanum Commersoiu, a worthless form intro- 

 duced from Europe, gave more interesting results. 



This plant, although recommended as a valu- 

 able commercial product, really had very little 

 value. Like most wild potatoes, it scattered its 

 tubers widely from the hill; moreover it had a 

 bitter taste that made it unpalatable. The blos- 

 soms, however, were handsome, and, unlike the 

 blossoms of the ordinary potato, they were quite 

 fragrant. 



Moreover, the blossoms were produced in 

 astounding profusion. But they did not ordinarily 

 produce seed. When I crossed the plant with 

 other tuberous Solanums, however, I produced a 

 number of seed balls. By cross-fertilization the 

 plants had acquired a virility that they otherwise 

 lacked. 



These hybrid seeds produced many strange 

 forms of potato plants. Some had extremely large 

 blossoms in great quantities, others extremely 

 small ones; the blossoms varied in all shades 

 from deep blue through sky blue to red and white. 

 Some of the blossoms might have been thought 



[281] 



