320 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



purposes. Tomato foliage can be placed round fruit trees, like the 

 equally poisonous potato leaves, to prevent the access of insects, 

 and an infusion of the herb serves also as an insecticide for 

 syringing, as first adopted by Mr. Sircy. 



Solanum macrocarpum, Linne. 



Mauritius and Madagascar. A perennial herb. The berries are of 

 the size of an apple, globular and yellow. S. Thonningi (F. Jacq.), 

 from Guinea, is a nearly-related plant. S. calycinuin (Moc. et 

 Sess.), from Mexico, is also allied. 



Solanum Melongena, Linne. (S. ovigrum. Dunal ; S. esculentum, 

 Dunal. ) 



The Egg Plant. India and some other parts of tropical Asia. A 

 perennial plant, usually renewed in cultivation like an annual. The 

 egg-shaped large berries are known under the name of Aubergines 

 or Bringals or Begoons as culinary esculents. Allied plants are S. 

 insanum (L.), S. longum (Roxb.), S. serpentinum (Desf.), S. 

 undatum (Lam.), S. ferox (L.), S. pseudo-saponaceum (Blume), S. 

 album (Dour.), which all bear large berries, considered harmless, 

 but may not all represent well-marked species. Absolute ripeness 

 of all such kinds of fruits is an unavoidable requisite, as otherwise 

 even wholesome sorts may prove acrid or even poisonous. Probably 

 many other of the exceedingly numerous species of the genus 

 Solanum may be available for good-sized edible berries. 



Solanum muricatum, L'Heritier. 



The Pepino of Peru. A shrubby species with egg-shaped edible 

 berries, which are white with purple spots, and attain a length of 6 

 inches. 



Solanum Quitoense, Lamarck. 



Ecuador, Peru. A shrubby plant. The berries resemble small 

 oranges in size, colour, and taste, and are of a peculiar fragrance. 

 To this the S. Plumierii (Dun.), from the "West Indian Islands, is 

 also cognate, and the S. Topiro (Kunth), from the Orinoco. 



Solanum torvum, Swartz. 



From West India to Peru. A shrubby species with yellow 

 spherical berries of good size, which seem also wholesome. Other 

 species from tropical America have shown themselves sufficiently 

 hardy for inducing us to recommend the test culture of such kinds 

 of plants. Many of them are highly curious and ornamental. S. 

 sisymbrifolium (Lam.), of South America, yields also edible 

 berries. 



