Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-06-03

Showing Flower. Plant and Tuber
That it has a future before it he thinks
probable, but it is not yet certain
whether this may be reached sooner by
cultivation and selection. or by cross
ing with the ordinary variety. As 10
stands at present the species. the hardy.
is too bitter 90 Doe edible. says n.
Rudolph:
The plant is not new one. having
been described by Duuai In 1922. A
native of Brazil 30 is very vigOr-
Gus and reaches the height of about
$50 cenumeters 1.-TWO feeD. producing
numerous subterranean creepers. throw
ing out at intervals aerial stems. each
bearing tuber at the base . These
tuoers are ot variable form. spherical.
pear-shaped, OF eEe-shaped. hitherto
they have varied in size from that of
a nut to that of hens egg. &C.. These
tubers are soft and Of yellowish tint.
the eyes are well marked. but not deep
ly sunken. The proportion of starch
is from IL Co 90 per cent.
1T ifs 90 Or Heckel. director OF the
Marseilies Botanic garden. that we
owe the introduction of this new
Solanum 20 cultivation lie has grown
IL since 1896 without having observed
other variation than a progressive de.
velopment OF ihe tubers. which in
creased In weight from three to $50
grams. .
In the S0lanum Commersoni we have
a spontaneous type. from which culti-
walton has already removed its natural
characteristics. as fl long ago removed
those of our ordinary potatoes. OF which
We have now more than 500 different
varieties and forms. 49,.
THE plant is vigorous. resists dis
ease, may remain in the ground all win
ter. grows IN most soil. and Is very
productive The vigor OF the plant is
real. but il is "a great runner which Is
not a good quality. 10 does away with
killing or course but from the point
OF view OF the digger IL is a great la
Dor TO search for potatoes over the
whole surface Of field, not daring 10
leave a single corner untouched
It's resistance 20 disease seems GER
tain at present but plant disease
do not usually appear until after they
is nothing TO show that this species will
prove more refractory than others.
"One OF the best points would seem
20 be its rusJicity. that is. It's abil-
fly to winter In the earth. which is es-
pecially valuable IN mild climates.
where it can thus be dug as needed.
cts ability to flourish in moist or
marshy places is alse ene OF its best
qualities for our ordinary potatoes pre-
fer a light, dry soil. This will enable
the farmer 20 place under cultivation
soils that have hitherto remained IN
productive, and is possibly its great
est merit
THE most important question re-
mains-the quality Of the product. or
| this little has been said. except that
it may be eaten by cattle. but that the
tubers are bitter and that several more
years of cultivation are needed before
they will become really edible. This
may easily be realized; for il is impos-
Sble to change in a short time the food
value OF a plant so as TO adapt il TO our
tastes.
This is the plant; let us see now
what may be made of IT, Two ways are
open before IL. that of selection and
that OF hybridization Both are good
practically.
TO sum up. We have here a spon-
taneous type OF potato that Il is ouI
business 10 try 10 improve. FOR Il is
perhaps possible 10 obtain favorable
results; but in cases like this we must
be careful not TO be carried away by
the magic Of numbers and by the sup
posed merits OF a plant before beini
able 20 control the exactitude OF tn,
data.
In any case. this impartial studl
has for its object 70 let our reader
know what has been said since 1879
about this potato. in which we may see
in the course Of tame. a new element ii
the development of one OF our hes
/ foods "