view of gaining for the potato greater vigour than the 

 S. tulerosum possesses in withstanding attacks of 

 fungous diseases. Not only has hybridisation by means 

 of the flowers been attempted, but grafting with the 

 view of gaining fresh characteristics in the plants from 

 seed produced in this manner has been tried, though 

 not with sufficient success to lead to the hope that the 

 potato grower can look forward to any material assist- 

 ance from it in the future. 



Introduction to Europe. 



The research which has been carried on in con- 

 nection with plants closely allied to the potato has, 

 however, been productive of much useful information. 

 The physical constitution of the potato is undoubtedly 

 impaired by the special treatment to which it has been 

 for so many years subjected. The Spaniards appear 

 to have been the first to bring the plant from its 

 habitat in South America in the early part of the six- 

 teenth century, and before the end of the century it 

 had been introduced to most of the countries of Western 

 Europe. Its introduction to England is associated with 

 the name of Sir Walter Raleigh, who brought over 

 specimens from Virginia late in the century. The 

 Virginia stock originally came from South America, as 

 the plant is not indigenous to North America. It is 

 claimed that it was known in Ireland some years before 

 Sir Walter Raleigh introduced it ; like so many intro- 

 ductions to that country, it is supposed to have been 

 washed ashore from a shipwreck. One way or another 



