By Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. 



covered by Sir Francis Drake, in the South Seas, and 

 others, that they were introduced into England, by Sir John 

 Hawkins; but in both instances the plant alluded to is 

 clearly the Sweet Potatoe, which was used in England, as a 

 delicacy, long before the introduction of our Potatoes ; it 

 was imported in considerable quantities from Spain, and the 

 Canaries, and was supposed to possess the power of restoring 

 decayed vigour. The " kissing comfits" of Falstaff,* and 

 other confections of similar imaginary qualities, with which 

 our ancestors were duped, were principally made of these, 

 and of Eringo roots. 



The Potatoes themselves were sold by itinerant dealers, 

 chiefly in the neighbourhood of the Royal Exchange, and 

 purchased, when scarce, at no inconsiderable cost, by those 

 who had faith in their alleged properties. The allusions to 

 this opinion are very frequent in the plays of that age. 



Every anecdote that tends to throw light on the introduc- 

 tion, or on the probable origin, of plants now cultivated for 

 use, is certainly interesting, even though it is not quite per- 

 fect ; I venture, therefore, to add the following. 



Seven or eight years ago, Mr. Lambert brought to me a 

 small paper of seeds, on which was written, " Hill Wheat " I 

 opened it, and found the seeds contained to be scarcely 

 larger than those of our wild grasses; but when viewed 

 through a lens, they perfectly resembled grains of Wheat. 



Of these seeds, he was so good as to spare me a few, which 



* 4t Let it rain potatoes, and hail kisssing comfits." Merry Wives of Windsor, 

 Act v. Scene 5. 



Parkinson's Paradisus Terrestris, p. 518. Gerard's Herbal, 1697, p. 7»0- 



