6 THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



BOTANY AND MATERIA MEDICA. 



By Oliver A. Farwell^ Botanist of Parke, Davis & Co. 



THE POTATOES. 



According- to the Scientific Aniericaii, the name potato comes from 

 the Indian word "botata" of the Urabak language of Darien. and was 

 apphed by the Indians to the sweet potato, the Jpoma:a Batatas Lam. 

 It is one of the most widely distributed of plants, coming from Central 

 and South America. Some of the other names derived from the atove 

 are: "batata," "potata." "potato," "potada," "potate," and "sweet," 

 "Carolina," "Bermuda," "West Indian," "Spanish," and "long"" potato. 

 It was introduced into Spain by Columbus in 1504, whence it spread 

 rapidly into the adjoining countries, so that half a century later it was 

 common all over southern Europe. It was early introduced into Eng- 

 land. In 1597 Gerard transferred the name "potatoes" from the "sweet 

 potato," IpouKva Batatas, to the Irish potato, SoJanuin tuberosum Lin., 

 calling it "English," "American," or "Mrginia" potato; the other 

 names are "Irish," "round," "common,"" and "white" potato; the 

 pataque, the Murphy, and the spud ; the Indian name is "appa"' and the 

 French "pomme de terre," also applied to the tubers of the hog peanut, 

 Apios tuberosa. It was introduced about 1580, or earlier, into Spain, 

 from whence it gradually spread to the other countries of southern 

 Europe. It was introduced into Ireland l)y Sir Richard Grenville about 

 1585, who, after planting a colony on Roanoke Island, sailed for home, 

 capturing a Spanish ship on the way ; this ship was filled with the 

 "spuds"' and other vegetable products of the New World. The old 

 belief that the Irish potato was introduced into Ireland by returning 

 Virsrinia colonists can no longer be sustained, as the common potato 

 at that time was not known on the North American continent. There 

 are other records which would seem to indicate that Sir John Hawkins 

 and Sir Francis Drake introduced the common potato into Ireland and 

 England in 1586. The sweet potato is an enlarged ®r tuberous root, 

 while the Irish or white potato is the enlarged end of an underground 

 stem. The Irish potato was not cultivated in New England until some 

 time in the first quarter of the eighteenth century. 



GINSENG IN CHINA. 



China consumes so large a proportion of this drug that it may be 

 said to be the only market for it. It is as well known and as essential 

 to the Chinaman as tea. In China medicine goes hand in hand with 



