252 HOME AND GARDEN 



name of Solanum, and come from the same region, 

 the northern parts of South America. But the Hke- 

 ness is shown in the flowers, and a good deal in the 

 leaves, also the round berries of the Potato are not 

 unlike the just-formed fruits of the Tomato, Another 

 of these South American Solanums is the Egg-plant, 

 the Aubergine of the French, seldom seen in our 

 country, as even under glass we do not manage to 

 grow it well. 



Many of these Solanums have a curious and rather 

 disagreeable smell ; it is strong in the foliage of the 

 Tomato, and perceptible in the woody Nightshade 

 {Solanum dulcamara) of our woods and waste places. 

 The leaves and stems of the Tomato have a covering 

 of some kind of soft structure that breaks down and 

 rubs off by even gentle handling. When training 

 Tomatoes one's hands become covered with the clammy 

 greenish moisture that dries upon them in successive 

 coats. When the job is done and hands are washed, 

 the stuff washes off by degrees, dyeing the water a 

 bright yellow colour, and it takes quite four washings 

 before it can all be got off. 



Hardy in the south of England and always beau- 

 tiful, is the far-trailing creeper Solanum jasminoides ; 

 some of the sprays of foliage turning to a deep 

 bronze-black colour that contrasts admirably with 

 the tender white of the flowers. Solanum crispum is 

 a grand wall shrub in our southern counties, loaded 

 in April and May with its many-flowered clusters of 



