290 AGRICULTURE ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE 



it is the most common food in Ireland, grows wild in 

 Chile. It was found in cultivation (in northern South 

 America) when America was discovered. It was in- 

 troduced into Europe toward the end of the sixteenth 

 century, both by the Spaniards and the English. The 

 English brought it from Virginia to England, where 

 at first people attempted to use the ill-flavored and 

 poisonous leaves as a pot herb. It is said that this 

 mistake caused Sir Walter Raleigh, who had sent the 

 plant, to be suspected of intending to poison Queen 

 Elizabeth. He was exonerated when it was explained 

 that only the tubers were to be eaten. After this the | 

 potato spread rapidly over Europe, and largely took j 

 the place of other root crops, such as beets, turnips, and I 

 carrots. These are now mostly fed to stock. 



Potatoes contain more starch than any of the other roots 

 mentioned, and can be cooked in a greater variety of ways. 

 As they do not have a strong flavor, one does not get tired 

 so easily of eating them, just as is the case with bread. In 

 Europe the potato is largely used to make starch and alcohol. 



Potatoes are not grown from seed, but whole or cut tubers 

 are planted in rows about three feet apart. The tubers are 

 underground stems, and are quite different from the real roots. 

 Their "eyes" are buds, and from each eye we can grow a 

 plant. But unless we leave a piece of the potato tuber to 

 nourish the growing bud at first, the plant will be weak and 

 will not bear well. In some seasons the potato vines will 

 bear many green berries. These, like the leaves and stems 

 of most of the nightshade family, to which the potato be- 

 longs, are ill-tasting and poisonous. So also are the potato 



