they apply to that part in which the practice of the modern gardener is conceived to be most defective, and embrace no inconsiderable field of improvement.

In the execution of their plan, the Society feels that they have many difficulties to encounter, and some prejudices to contend with; but they have long been convinced, as individuals, and their aggregate observations have tended only to increase their conviction, that there scarcely exists a single species of esculent plant or fruit, which (relative to the use of man) has yet attained its utmost state of perfection; nor any branch of practical horticulture, which is not still susceptible of essential improvement: and, under these impressions, they hope to receive the support and assistance of those who are interested in, and capable of promoting, the success of their endeavours.

II. An Attempt to ascertain the Time when the Potatoe (Solanum tuberosum) was first introduced into the United Kingdom; with some Account of the Hill Wheat of India. By the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. K. B. P. R. S. &c.

Read May 7, 1805.

THESE notes on the introduction of the Potatoe, which it is hoped will not be found uninteresting to the Society, were chiefly collected by my worthy and learned friend Mr. DRYANDER, Some of them from authorities not easily accessible. Those on the Wheat, though not within the immediate object of this Society, will I hope, be considered as sufficiently interesting to be laid before them; could we trace the origin of any one of our cultivated plants, it may, and probably will, lead to the discovery of others.

The Potatoe now in use (Solanum tuberosum) was brought to England by the colonists sent out by Sir WALTER RALEIGH, under the authority of his patent, granted by Queen ELIZABETH," for discovering and planting new countries, not possessed by Christians," which passed the great seal in 1584. Some of Sir WALTER'S ships sailed in the same year; others, (on board one of which was THOMAS HERRIOT, afterwards known as a mathematician,) in 1585; the whole however returned on the 27th of July, 1586, and probably brought with them the Potatoe.

This Mr. THOMAS HERRIOT, who was probably sent out to examine the country, and report to his employers the

nature and produce of its soil, wrote an account of it, which is printed in the first Volume of DE BRY'S Collection of Voyages. In this account, under the article of roots, at page 17, he describes a plant called Openawk: "These roots," says he, "are round, some as large as a walnut, others much larger; they grow in damp soil, many hanging together, as if fixed on ropes; they are good food, either boiled or roasted."

GERARD, in his Herbal, published in 1597, gives a figure of the Potatoe, under the name of Potatoe of Virginia; and tells us that he received the roots from Virginia, otherwise called Norembega.

The manuscript minutes of the Royal Society, December 13, 1693, tells us, that Sir ROBERT SOUTHWELL, then President, informed the fellows, at a meeting, that his grandfather brought Potatoes into Ireland, who first had them from Sir WALTER RALEIGH.

This evidence proves, not unsatisfactorily, that the Potatoe was first brought into England, either in the year 1586, or very soon after, and sent from thence to Ireland, without delay, by Sir ROBERT SOUTHWELL's ancestor, where it was cherished and cultivated for food before the good people of England knew its value; for GERARD, who had this plant in his garden in 1597, recommends the roots to be eaten as a delicate dish, not as common food.

It appears, however, that it first came into Europe, at an earlier period, and by a different channel; for CLUSIUS, who at that time resided at Vienna, first received the Potatoe in 1598, from the governor of Mons, in Hainault, who had procured it the year before from one of the attendants of the Pope's legate, under the name of Taratoufli; and C

VOL. I.

learned from him, that in Italy, where it was then in use, no one certainly knew whether it originally came from Spain, or from America.

PETER CIECA, in his Chronicle, printed in 1553, tells us, chap. xl. page 49, that the inhabitants of Quito, and its vicinity, have, besides Mays, a tuberous root, which they eat, and call Papas; this, CLUSIUS guesses to be the plant he received from Flanders, and this conjecture has been confirmed by the accounts of travellers, who have visited the country since that period.

From these details we may fairly infer, that Potatoes were first brought into Europe from the mountainous parts of South America, in the neighbourhood of Quito; and, as the Spaniards were the sole possessors of that country, there is little doubt of their having been first carried into Spain; but as it would take some time to introduce them into use in that country, and afterwards to make the Italians so well acquainted with them as to give them a name,* there is every reason to believe they had been several years in Europe, before they were sent to CLUSIUS.

The name of the root, in South America, is Papas, and in Virginia, it was called Openawk; the name of Potatoe was therefore evidently applied to it on account of its similarity in appearance to the Battatas, or Sweet Potatoe; and our Potatoe appears to have been distinguished from that root, by the appellative of Potatoe of Virginia, till the year 1640, if not longer.†

Some authors have asserted, that Potatoes were first dis

* Taratoufli signifies also truffles.

↑ Gerard's Herbal, by Johnson, page 927.

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 introduction, or on the probable origin, of plants now cultivated for use, is certainly interesting, even though it is not quite perfect; 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

* "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. 780.