32 BERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



been gradually spread over it in former times 

 by the Greeks and Romans, then by the Cru- 

 saders, and more recently by the direct means 

 of navigation; and these again have passed on 

 to America, to which we have given all our vege- 

 table treasures." 



I asked if America, which abounds in delight- 

 ful plants, has given any thing useful in return 

 to Europe. 



" Yes," said my aunt, " one plant in particu- 

 lar, which is so useful that its cultivation is 

 almost universal. In this country it makes so 

 important a part of the food of millions, that 

 I think it better deserves the name of * the 

 hundred ounces of gold' than the famous Peony 

 tree, called in China * Pe-hany-king,' which has 

 that meaning on account of the enormous price 

 given for it." 



I could not help interrupting her to say, I was 

 sure that was what Mrs. Barbauld alluded to in 

 the line, 



And China's groves of vegetable gold. 



She smiled and went on: "The American 

 plant, I speak of, is no longer curious, nor high 

 in price, though it is in value. Can you guess 

 what it is, Bertha ? it is a native of Peru, where, 

 however, it does not seem to grow with half the 

 luxuriance that it does in Europe." 



" I believe, aunt, you mean the potatoe." 

 "Yes," said my aunt, " the potatoe. It was 



