On the Native Country of the Wild Potato, 8fC. 265 



in sufficient plenty to be subjected to treatment similar to a 

 common crop of potato. The result of another year's ex- 

 perience is necessary to enable us fully to observe on the ments 

 and value of this new introduction ; but the followmg changes 

 already appear to have attended its subjection to cultivation;— 

 the produce is most abundant, the tubers have lost all the 

 bitterness of flavour which is attributed to them in the natural 

 state, and their size is increased remarkably; from all which 

 circumstances I am disposed to infer, that the origmal culti- 

 vators of this vegetable did not exercise either much art or 

 patience in the production of their garden potatoes. 



The increased growth of the potato, not only in these kmg- 

 doms, but almost in every civilized part of the globe, has so 

 added to its importance, that any information respecting it has 

 become valuable ; the subject of this communication may there- 

 fore not be without interest. With the exception of wheat and 

 rice, it is now certainly the vegetable most employed as the food 

 of man; and it is probable that the period is at no great distance, 

 when its extensive use will even place it before those which have 

 hitherto been considered the chief staples of life. The effect, of 

 the unlimited extent to which its cultivation may be carried, on 

 the human race, must be a subject of deep interest to the poli- 

 tical economist. The extension of population, will be as un- 

 bounded as the production of food, which is capable of being 

 produced m very small space, and with great facility ; and the 

 increased number of inhabitants of the earth will necessarily 

 induce changes, not only in the political systems, but in all the 

 artificial relations of civilized life. How far such changes may 

 conduce to, or increase the happiness of mankind, is very pro- 

 blematical; more especially when it is considered, that since the 

 potato, when in cultivation, is very liable to injury from casu- 

 alties of season, and that it is not at present known how to keep 

 it in store for use beyond a few months, a general failure of the 

 year's crop, whenever it shall have become the chief or sole 

 support of a country, must inevitably lead to all the misery of 

 famine, more dreadful in proportion to the numbers exposed to 

 its ravages. 



