THE POTATO ITSELF 309 



ble was the bitter principle which was transmitted 

 by the commersoni to almost all its hybrid seed- 

 lings. Yet the very large, handsome blossoms of 

 various colors, borne profusely by these plants, 

 would recommend them for cultivation for these 

 alone. 



There are various other wild potatolike So- 

 lanums growing, as did these original potatoes, 

 in South America, that might advantageously be 

 tested as to their hybridizing possibilities in con- 

 nection with the cultivated varieties. It need 

 scarcely be added that such experiments will 

 ultimately be made in which all allied species of 

 potato will be tested; and it is highly probable 

 that this will lead to the development of new 

 varieties that will surpass the potatoes of to-day 

 as markedly as these surpass the wild ancestors 

 from which they have been developed in com- 

 paratively recent time. 



I had been imbued from the very 

 outset with the idea that inasmuch 

 as existing plants had all evolved 

 from inferior types, it should be 

 possible to develop any or all of 

 them still further. 



