-~Mriyyesora Srare HorricvutturaL Sociery. 27 
ie Value of the Potato. 
Of all our horticultural productions, there is perhaps nothing of greater 
importance, if we except the apple, than the Irish potato. A native of South 
America, and introduced into the British dominions in the 16th century. Web- 
ster says: ‘‘In the British dominions and in the United States, it has proved one 
of the greatest blessings bestowed on man by the Creator.”’ 
Source of New Varieties—Seedlings. 
The fact that the Commissioner of Agriculture, Wm. G. LeDuc, has just in- 
troduced a very superior*variety of the Irish potato mto this country from 
Peru, is a matter of considerable interest, and possibly of great commercial 
importance. Although I am inclined to think it almost too good’a thing to hope 
for, that we should obtain a variety of the Irish potato, that originated south of 
the equator, that will even prove of as great commercial value as some of our 
best native seedlings. We will doubtless find varieties richer in saccharine 
matter, and of most excellent quality, and to those who have a preference for 
sweet potatoes, a great acquisition. 
But for lack of adaptation to our more rigorous climate and soil, lack of pro- 
ductiveness oy lack of keeping qualities, is it not too much of a good thing to 
hope for, as I said before, that they should prove as great a blessing, or of as 
great a commercial value, as the Early Rose, Peach Blow, or a dozen others that 
might be mentioned? I took a similar view in regard to Russian varieties of 
the common apple, soon atter the introduction of the four hundred varieties from 
St. Petersburg, in 1870, by the department of agriculture. And after putting 
one hundred aad thirty varieties on trial, and fruiting a dozen kinds, I am still 
more fully convinced of the correctness of the prediction. 
The past season I took more fruit from one Minnesota seedling, known as the 
Rollins Pippin (and still more from the Rollins Prolific) than from the whole 
dozen new Russians put together. They were all top grafted on the Hyslop, 
except one tree, and the Russians had been grafted one or two years the longest. 
Mr. M. J. Hoag, an old settler in this State, and a man of considerable experience 
in the nursery business before he came here, expressed my views exactly before 
our county Horticultural Society, when he stated that ‘‘ Every climate must have 
a pomology ofits own.’’ Now this means seedlings. Possibly this rule may not 
apply with quite as much force to potato seedlings as to seedlings of the apple, 
but to all those who are tired of sending east for new varieties at one dollar per 
pound, I say, try it. Were this State thrown entirely on its own resources, and 
obliged to run an independent line; and depend wholly upon its own seed and 
seedlings, for potatoes, apples, strawbernes, &c.. who does not believe that in a 
single decade we should be the gainers thereby. Let us see how it is with the 
common apple. Why, already, our last report from this society shows that no 
one attempts to place anything ahead of one of our Minnesota seedlings for fall, and 
I will here predict that in our list for ‘‘ trial by amateurs and pomologists” there 
will be found varieties for winter, which, for hardiness and quality combined, 
will surpass anything imported into this State. (If any timid member should 
happen to cry ‘‘ axe to grind’ at this poimt, please to inform him that this axe 
called ‘‘ Minnesota Seedlings,’’ has such a ring of superior steel about it—it is 
not what was called iron-clad before the winter of seventy-two and three—that 
even the most confirmed old croakers will yet be willing and anxious to catch 
