ROOTS. 141 



CHAPTER IX. 



ROOTS. 



THE POT ATO , (Solanum iuberosum). 



The potato is a native of the American Continent. It is 

 found in a wild state both in Buenos Ayres and Chili, and 

 was probably discovered in the same condition by the early 

 settlers of North America. It was supposed to have been 

 taken into Spain and Italy early in the 16th century by Span- 

 ish adventurers, as it was cultivated in those countries in 

 1550. In 1588 it was introduced into Vienna from Italy, 

 and also into England probably as early as 1586, by the 

 colonists of Virginia who were sent out by Sir Walter Ra- 

 leigh. It was regarded in Europe at first as a delicacy; but 

 not until within a comparatively recent period has it found 

 its way in both continents, as an article of agricultural atten- 

 tion, and an almost indispensable food for man and beast. 

 As an illustration of the neglect of the potato in this conn- 

 try as a field crop, the writer may mention that he once 

 knew an extensive eastern farmer, who, late in the last cen- 

 tury, had raised in one year 7 bushels of potatoes. After 

 disposing of all that was wanted for his own and his neigh- 

 bors consumption he had still a surplus left. A farmer on 

 the same premises at the present day would deem 700 bush- 

 els a short crop. 



VARIETIES. These are almost illimitable. They differ 

 in form from round to oblong, are flat and curved or kidney- 

 shaped ; they vary in size from the delicate lady-finger to 

 the gigantic blue-nose ; their exterior is rough or polished 

 and of almost every hue, white, yellow, red, and almost black; 

 and the surface is smooth and even with the eye scarcely 

 discernible, or deeply indented with innumerable sunken 

 eyes like the rohan and merino. The interior is equally 

 diversified in color and is mealy, glutinous or watery, and 

 sometimes pleasant and sometimes disagreeable to the taste. 

 They likewise differ in ripening earlier or later, and in being 



