4 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



descendants in our gardens, the results brought about by culti- 

 vation are truly astonishing ; but the surprise must be modified 

 by the reflection on the length of time it has taken to accomplish 

 them. 



Let me quote another instance. The Potato was introduced 

 from America three centuries ago, and has been generally culti- 

 vated for at least two hundred years. Quite recently one of our 

 most accomplished botanists — Mr. J. G. Baker, of Kew — has 

 investigated the tuber-bearing species of Solanum, and has 

 expressed his belief that all the various forms of the cultivated 

 Potato have originated from one species, viz., Solanum tubero- 

 sum. From these two instances we see plainly how remarkable 

 are the changes brought about by the continuous cultivation of 

 a single species, and at the same time how long a period, 

 extending over many generations of human life, it takes to effect 

 them. We can understand, too, from these same facts how it 

 is that a plant or herb with properties rendering it suitable for 

 food when improved by cultivation is rarely, if ever, taken in 

 hand by horticulturists of the present day. 



There are six known species of tuber bearing Solanums, from 

 one of which, S. tuberosum, as I said before, all our garden 

 Potatoes have originated. Of the other five there is at least 

 one that promises to be very valuable as the starting-point of a 

 new race of Potatoes, which, under the more scientific gardening 

 of the present age, may be made to bring about satisfactory 

 results in a much shorter space of time than it has taken to 

 bring our present race of Potatoes, under the more primitive 

 practice of our forefathers, to the perfection in which we have 

 them. This is Solanum Maglia. I will quote Mr. Baker's 

 words from the Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. xx. page 507: 

 "As far as climate is concerned, it cannot be doubted that 

 Solanum Maglia (or the Darwin Potato, as we might suitably 

 christen it in England) would be better fitted to succeed in 

 England and Ireland than S. tuberosum, a plant of a compara- 

 tively dry climate. We have indisputable testimony that S. 

 Maglia and S. Commersonii yield readily an abundant supply of 

 eatable Potatoes. What I would suggest is, that these should 

 be brought into the economic arena and thoroughly tested as 

 regards their economic value, both as distinct types and when 

 hybridised with the numerous S. tuberosum forms." It is very 



