184 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



It is possible to control the diseases and pests that 

 caused the failures, partial and complete, of the 

 potato crops, up to the time that spraying_methods 

 were perfected. 



In Revolutionary times but two varieties of 

 potatoes were generally known, a red and a white 

 one. It was not known then, as now, that the 

 vegetable is more important than most other 

 garden and field crops, because it can be so cheaply 

 raised, and so is within the reach of the poorest. 

 By improvement in methods of cultivation the 

 yield became constantly greater, and quality im- 

 proved. The species tends to vary greatly, so 

 new varieties were developed, and put on the mar- 

 ket for "seed." Many thousands of varieties are 

 in cultivation now. 



Any one interested can create new varieties, or 

 improve old ones. A few horticulturists in each 

 of the leading civilized countries have devoted 

 themselves to the raising of potatoes from seed. 

 From their experiments the best new varieties 

 have come into existence. 



Americans like big potatoes : Europeans like little 

 ones. We like white ones: they like yellow and 

 red-fleshed ones. The flavor of a fine potato is 

 more considered by the French and English than 

 by us. Our potatoes depend for flavor on the 



