1815.] MM. Parmentier. ~ 167 
of this root,* in which he demonstrated that none of its consti- 
tuents are hurtful. He did better still. ‘To give the people a 
relish for them, he cultivated them in the open fields, in places very 
much frequented. He guarded them carefully during the day only; 
and was happy when he had excited as much curiosity as to induce 
people to steal some of them during the night. He would have 
wished that the King, as we read of the Emperors of China, had 
traced the first furrow of his field. His Majesty thought proper at 
least to wear a bunch of potatoe flowers at his button-hole in the 
midst of the Court on a festival day. Nothing more was wanting 
to induce several great Lords to plant this root. 
Parmentier wished likewise to engage the cooks of the great in 
the service of the poor, by inducing them to practise their skill on 
the potatoe ; for he was aware that the poor could not obtain pota- 
toes in abundance unless they could furnish the rich with an agree- 
able article of food. He informs us that he one day gave a dinner 
composed entirely of potatoes, with 20 diflerent sauces, all of which 
gratified the palates of his guests. 
But the enemies of the potatoe, though refuted in their attempts 
to prove it injurious to the health, did not consider themselves as 
vanquished. ‘[hey pretended that it injured the fields, and ren- 
dered them barren. It was not at all likely that a plant which is 
capable of nourishing a greater number-of cattle, and multiplying” 
the manure, should injure the soil. It was necessary, however, to 
answer this objection, and to consider the potatoe in an agricultural 
point of view. Parmentier accordingly published in different forms 
every thing regarding its cultivation and uses, even in fertilizing the 
soil. He introduced the subject into philosophical works, into 
popular instructions, into journals, into dictionaries, into works of 
all kinds. During 40 years he let slip no opportunity of recom- 
mending it. Every bad year was a kind of auxiliary, of which he 
profited with eare to draw the attention of mankind to his favourite 
plant. 
Hence the name of this salutary vegetable and his own have be- 
come almost inseparable in the memory of the friends of humanity. 
Even the common people united them, and not always with rai 
tude. Ata certain period of the Revolution it was proposed t 
give Parmentier some municipal place. One of the voters opposed 
this proposal with fury : ‘* He will make us eat potatoes,” said he, 
* it was he who invented them.” 
But Parmentier did not ask the suffrages of the people. He 
knew well that it was always a duty to serve them. But he knew 
equally that as long as their education remained what it is, it was a 
duty likewise not to consult them. He had no doubt that at length 
the advantage of his plans would be appreciated. And one of the 
* Examen Chimique de Pommes de Terre, &c. Paris, Didot, 1773; and Ouy- 
rage Economique sur Jes Ponmes de Terre, Il Monory, 1774, Both are the same 
edition, with different titles, 
- 
