O N T H E N A T I V E C O U N T R Y OF T H E
P O T A T O E.
“ IT has long been a desideratum among Botanists to ascertain the native country of the Potatoe, Solarium
tuberosum. I beg leave now to offer some communications on that subject, which I have lately received in a
letter from the celebrated author of the Flora Peruviana, Don Jose Pavon, who resided many years in South
America, dated Madrid, September 23, 1817, who says, “ The Solatium tuberosum grows wild in the environs
of Lima, in Peru, and fourteen leagues from Lima on the coast; and I myself have found it wild in the kingdom
ot Chili. I can assure you this is the truth. The Indians cultivate it in great abundance in Peru and in
Chili, and call it Papas. There are other wild species, such as Solatium montanum which also gives a radix
tuberosa.” Of this I have received from the above-mentioned author of the Flora Peruviana fine wild specimens
with the root. In another letter, dated Madrid, Nov. 10, he again repeats, “ I mentioned to you that
Solanum tuberosum grows spontaneously near Lima, and in the kingdom of Chili, where it was also found by
my companions Dombey and Ruiz.” I have lately received from M. Pavon very fine wild specimens of
Solanum tuberosum, collected by himselt in Peru. Don Francisco Zea, companion and friend of the celebrated
Mutis, who long resided in South America, assured me, when he was in this country, that he had often found
it wild in the forests near Santa Fe de Bogota, observing, at the same time, that the reason why Baron de Humboldt
had not found it when he was in that country, was, because he had not time to examine those places
where it grew. In a letter (addressed to Mr. Frazer of Sloane-street, Chelsea,) lately received from Dr. Baldwin,
an excellent American botanist, who has lately returned from the coast of South America, in the Congress
frigate, of the United States, he says, u I found many plants that appeared to be new, during my excursion
in South America, and had the satisfaction of submitting most of my specimens to M, Bonpland, who
has settled himself in the vicinity of Buenos Ayres. It was not the least pleasing of my discoveries to find the
famous Solatium tuberosum growing spontaneously among the rocks on Monte Video; in a part of the country,
too, where this valuable vegetable is not cultivated. I also found it on the same side of the river in the vicinity
of Maldonado.” A species of Solanum was found by Commerson in the neighbourhood of Monte Video,
named by Dunal, in his Synopsis o f the Genus Solatium, page 5, Solanum Commersonii, from a specimen preserved
in the Museum at Paris. It is also described in the Supplement to the Encyclopedic Methodique,
Vol. III., p. 740. I have no doubt that this is the same with the plant found by Dr. Baldwin. On making
inquiry, relating to this plant, of Captain Bowles, who has lately returned from the South American station,
and who has resided for a considerable time at Buenos Ayres, he told me he knew it well, and that it is a common
weed in the gardens and in the neighbourhood, bearing small tubers like those of the potatoe, but too
bitter for use. Whether this be the original stock of our common potatoe, improved by cultivation, future
observation must determine. Molina, in his History o f Chili, speaking of the potatoe, says, “ It is indeed found
in all the fields of that country ; but those plants that grow wild, called by the Indians Maglia, produce only
very small roots, of a bitter taste.”
“ The wild potatoe has been gathered in Chili, by Mr. Caldcleugh, a gentleman who has been several years
resident in South America, and two roots brought by him from thence have been cultivated in the garden of
the Horticultural Society. The roots, although very small, grew remarkably luxuriant, and the stems produced
by them covered a space full four yards in circumference. The stems and leaves were rougher and
more rigid than in the cultivated potatoe, and the flowers somewhat smaller. The leaves at first were equally
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