THE POTATO. 259 



experiments, raising new varieties from the seed of his im- 

 ported tubers, starting in all some fifteen thousand kinds and 

 selecting from this large number only ten or a dozen which, 

 after years of trial, he concluded possessed a vigorous consti- 

 tution and such qualities as made them a desirable table po- 

 tato. One of the earliest varieties originating with Mr. Good- 

 rich was the Garnet Chili, the parent of our present famous 

 Early Rose and Peerless varieties, the Garnet still remaining 

 a prolific, healthy and acceptable variety. To Mr. Goodrich 

 also we are indebted for the Gleason, Harrison, Early Good- 

 rich, and other valuable varieties. 



Since Mr. Goodrich's day the value of the potato crop has 

 appreciated steadily and probably never stood as high as it 

 does now. He may not have been altogether correct iiii 

 his theory of the disease of this root. We are inclined to 

 think there was some subtle climatic influence which aided in 

 the production of the disease, if not its first cause, as some of 

 the varieties which were considered at that time unhealthy 

 and were given up by most cultivators, have since renewed 

 their age and are now productive. However this may be, we 

 are greatly indebted to Mr. Goodrich for his persevering eflforts 

 to introduce new varieties, and his careful study of the habits 

 of the potato. The results of his observations he communi- 

 cated to the Secretary of the New York State Agricultural. 

 Society, and they form a most interesting chapter in the 

 volume of " The Transactions," of that Society for 1863. 

 What makes Mr. Goodrich's labors in this direction the more 

 remarkable is the fact that from some idiosyncrasy he never 

 ate potatoes himself. 



Mr. Goodrich died in the midst of liis experiments, but his 

 mantle seems to have fallen on Mr. Albert Bresee of Hub- 

 bardton, Vt. Prom the Garnet Ciiili, as parent stock, Mr. 

 Bresee has produced some seedlings which bid fair to liavc a 

 national reputation. The Early Rose has such a reputation 

 now. The Prolific is also a No. 1 potato. It is of fine shape,, 

 hardy character, and excellent quality, and though not as pro- 

 ductive as its name might imply, is above the average in this 

 respect, if we may judge from two years cultivation. No one^ 



