POTATO 255 



an extent as to bring starvation in regions where potatoes 

 were the principal article of diet. No one knows where 

 the potato came from that was cultivated previous to that 

 time. Rev. Chauncey Goodrich, of Utica, New York, 

 urged before agricultural societies and the agricultural 

 committees of the New York legislature that potato rot 

 resulted from lowered vitality of the potato plant, due to 

 its being grown under high cultivation and in climates and 

 soils not wholly congenial to a sub- tropical plant, native 

 to a small section only of the earth's surface; and he claimed 

 that the way to restore its vigor would be to get varieties 

 from the part of South America that was the home of the 

 potato. His theories were laughed at by scientific men, 

 and the legislative committee told him he knew more about 

 theology than about plant diseases. 



Being thus repulsed, he attempted on his own account 

 what he felt should be undertaken by the state. Mr. 

 Goodrich commenced his experiments about 1848, and at 

 various times for many years imported potatoes from South 

 America, and from these and their progeny he raised many 

 seedlings. Among eight kinds received at one importa- 

 tion (probably from Chili) was a variety that he called 

 the Rough Purple Chili. It ripened late in the season and 

 was generally hollow, but it had flesh of fine texture and 

 was free from rot. From seed saved from this he raised 

 the Garnet Chili, which was a popular variety for many 

 years in New York state. The Garnet Chili was parent 

 of the Early Rose and of Brazee's Prolific and other Brazee 

 seedlings and, indeed, of nearly all of the desirable varieties 

 of Europe and America which have been prized for half a 

 century. Although from some of his other importations 

 he also raised a few very good sorts, yet the progeny of 

 the Rough Purple Chili gave him the most valuable kinds. 



