485 
negro villages in Golungo Alto, in flower and fruit in January, 
June, July and middle of August (Hiern, l.c. p. 146). 
Solanum tuberosum, Linn. Sp. Pl. (1753) p. 185. 
An annual plant well known in gardens and fiélds at home. 
The ‘Potato. 
Trade in the Valley of the Niger, 2n A Tow Comm. aris, Nov. 
27, 1910), the Gold Coast—seed from the Canary Pad (Crowther, 
Rep. Mise. No. 1, 1891, p. 51), in Southern Angola— 
p. 1887), in the untry, anda Railway (altitude 
about 7000 ft.), where (1902) the few Boropean, planters there 
1 potatoes as a staple crop, the yield out manur 
2-9 rupees per load of 60 Ib. (Lyne, Cons. Rep. Misc. No. 577, 
1902, p. 4), in Makindu, E. Afriea Protectorate ur? 8 tons 
per acre of AE qu uality have been obtained (Col. Rep. Ann. 
No. 519, 1907, 85), in Jamaica, Bermudas, India, Ceylon, 
Upper Burma, sad the Assam Hills the potato is under successful 
cultivation (see refs.). Other instances might be given but the 
above are enough to show that considerable interest is being 
taken in this V in hot countries and where ground at a 
suitable altitude (2000-5000 ft. or so) ob: We attained the een 
tion need not be met with much difficu 
The requirements under clean a are a rich sed loam, 
thoroughly drained, a warm climate and moderate rainf 
Reproduction is invariably ie by tubers or sets." In 
European M large potatoes are often cut into halves or 
quarters, but erally small selected whole tubers are used and 
in the tropies t is advisable to use the latter. *'Greening" of 
potatoes, that is ex osing them to light in layers to induce strong 
*sprits"' before pl anting, is recommended. Set 4 in. deep at 
distances of 1 ft. in shallow drills 2-3 ft. apart, they come to 
maturity in from 3-5 months, and a good crop is from 5-10 tons. 
Earthing up as occasion requires will be necessary during 
growth to keep the young potatoes covere ed potatoes 
are usually better imported a nd a large export trade of 
several thousand tons year is carried on from France 
(chiefly Bordeaux) to S. ie and British Colonies, espe- 
. cially in S. Africa. They are packed in specially prepar red 
lat) boxes containing two separate layers of 15 kilog. 
Hi arly 50 Ib.) in all about 100 Ib. of potatoes, the gross weight 
of the boxes being about 115 lb.; the first cost may vary from 
$ 
