362 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



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. Baron von Liebig remarks, " So far as its foliage is con- 

 cerned, it is a lime-plant; as regards its tuber a potash-plant/' Lange- 

 thal says, " It surpasses in easy range of cultivation all other root- 

 crops; its culture suppresses weeds and opens up the soil, besides 

 preparing the land for cereals." Seeds of the potato-berries should 

 be sown in adapted places by explorers of new countries. The most 

 formidable potato-disease of the last thirty years, from the Peronos- 

 pora infestans, seems to have originated from the use of objectionable 

 kinds of guano, with the introduction of which the murrain was con- 

 temporaneous; along with this fung the Fucisporium Solani works 

 almost constantly its mischief also ; to destroy their hibernating 

 spores, all vegetable remnants on potato-fields must be burnt (W. G. 

 Smith). The foliage of potato-plants, when thickly placed under 

 trees or shrubs infected by blights, checks materially the spread of 

 insects, which cause the disease. The most destructive potato-grub 

 is Lita Solanella. The Colorado-beetle, injurious to the potato-crop 

 in North-America, is Doryphora decemlineata. See in reference to 

 nativity Sir Joseph Hooker's notes on the wild forms of the potato- 

 plant in the Flora Antarctica, II., 329-332. The plant in one of its 

 wild states (S. Fendleri) in New Mexico and Arizona is said to endure 

 a temperature of zero. 



Solanum Uporo, Dunal. 



In many of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The large red 

 spherical berries of this shrub can be used like tomatoes. Proves 

 hardy at Port Phillip. The leaves, macerated in cold water, render it 

 quickly mucilaginous, and the liquid thus obtained is regarded as 

 valuable against dysentery (Rob. MacDougall). 



Solanum vescum, F. v. Mueller. 



The Gunyang. South-Eastern Australia, extending to Tasmania. 

 A shrub, yielding edible berries, which need however to be fully ripe 

 for securing absence of deleterious properties. 



Sophora Japonica, Linne.* 



A deciduous tree of China and Japan, resembling the Laburnum, 

 at length 60 feet high. Hardy in Middle Europe. Wood hard and 

 compact, valued for turners' work. All parts of the plant purgative; 

 the flowers rich in yellow dye, used for silk. The variety pendula, 

 desirable for cemeteries, when trained as a creeper, has few rivals in 

 handsomeness. 



Sophora tetraptera, J. Miller. 



New Zealand, Lord Howe's Island, Juan Fernandez Island, Chili, 

 Patagonia. The " Pelu " of the latter countries. A small tree with 

 exceedingly hard and durable wood, which can be used for cog- 

 wheels and other select structures. Trunk exceptionally attaining a 



