lOG LLIHRR BURBANK 



strange that tlie tribe of plantf to which this 

 vegetable belongs have always had for me a 

 rather exceptional interest 



Early in the course of my California work I 

 had secured specimens of a remote cousin of the 

 cultivated potato which grows in our southwest- 

 em States and which is known to the Indians as 

 the Squaw potato {Solanum Jamem). 



It is a wild rambling potato, spreading in all 

 directions by tubers that are connected by long 

 strings. Altliough used for food by the Indians, 

 this potato is not worth the notice of the culti- 

 vator, except for its hardiness. This trait sug- 

 gested that it might posnbly be crossed to 

 advantage with other species. But although 

 several crosses were effected with tliree other 

 species of the potato, nothing of value came 

 of them. 



An allied species, however, namely the Sola- 

 num Commenoni, a worthless form introduced 

 from central South America, gave more interest- 

 ing results. 



This plaiit, although recommended as a valu- 

 able commercial product, really had very little 

 value. Like most wild potatoes, it scattered its 

 tubers widely from tlie hill; moreover it had an 

 ineradicable bitter taste that made it unpalatable. 

 The blossoms, however, were very large and 



