204 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Potato continued. 



the extremely numerous varieties have originated is a 

 native of South America, chiefly Chili and Peru, where 

 it is found under variable conditions regarding soil and 

 climate. The date of its introduction into Britain is a 

 matter which has undergone much discussion, but the 

 plant is generally believed to have been brought from 

 Virginia to Ireland, in 1585 or 1586, by Thomas Her- 

 riott, who accompanied Sir Walter Ealeigh in several 

 voyages. The Potatoes introduced by Herriott were 

 planted near Cork ; but the value of the tubers for food 

 does not appear to have been recognised for a very 

 long period afterwards. In some French works, Parmen- 

 tier is given the credit of having introduced the Potato, 

 but his rSle in the matter was simply that of rendering 

 its cultivation more popular. There are six tuber- 

 bearing Solanums out of the total of 700 which Bentham 

 and Hooker estimate as distinct species. Mr. Baker's 

 investigations, however, in Button's trial grounds, led 

 him to believe that " all the numerous varieties in culti- 

 vation had originated from 8. tuberosum As far 



as climate is concerned, it cannot be doubted that 

 S. Maglia (or the Darwin Potato, as we might suitably 

 christen it in English) would be better fitted to succeed 

 in England and Ireland than 8. tuberosum, a plant of a 

 comparatively dry climate. We have indisputable testi- 

 mony that 8. Maglia and 8. Commersoni yield readily 

 an abundant supply of eatable potatoes. What I would 

 suggest is, that these should be brought into the economic 

 arena, and thoroughly tested as regards their economic 

 value, both as distinct types, and when hybridised with 

 the innumerable tuberosum forms." The following are the 

 most important contributions to the history, &c., of the 

 Potato : " A Review of the Tuber-bearing Species of 

 Solanum," by J. G. Baker, F.R.S., F.L.S. in Linnean 

 Society's Journal, Botany, Vol. XX. ; " On the Cultivated 

 Potato," by Earl Cathcart, in the " Journal of the Royal 

 Agricultural Society of England," VoL XX., s. s., Part I. ; 

 and " Nouvelles Recherches BUT le Type Sauvage de la 

 Pomme de Torre," by Alph. de Candolle, in the " Archives 

 des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles," Tome XV. (Geneva, 

 1886). 



Potato culture seems to owe its extension more to the 

 industry and attention paid to it by the poorer classes 

 of Irish inhabitants for the provision of food in a time 

 of sheer necessity, than to the recommendations of pro- 

 fessional men respecting a new source of food supply. 

 In Scotland, a state of great destitution and famine 

 prevailed about the middle of the eighteenth century, 

 and this had the effect of calling general attention to 

 agricultural subjects, and causing Potato cultivation to 

 receive considerable impetus. It progressed rapidly after- 

 wards, as farmers began to include Potatoes amongst their 

 field crops, and the plant's requirements soon became 

 better known, and new varieties began to be raised. 

 About the middle of the seventeenth century, measures 

 were taken by the Royal Society to encourage the general 

 cultivation of Potatoes throughout the kingdom for pre- 

 venting famine; but still their enormous value for food 

 was only imperfectly recognised until about a century 

 later, when attention was devoted to the subject which 

 has since become of such vast importance. Potato 

 crops received a serious check when the destructive 

 disease (a full reference to which will be found sub- 

 joined) appeared amongst them. This has never been 

 altogether eradicated, but much has been done, by 

 way of raising new varieties, and growing only such 

 as are, to a certain extent, disease - proof. Much also 

 depends on the seasons being favourable or unfavourable 

 to th development of the disease, regarding the crop 

 that may be annually expected; but, notwithstanding 

 these drawbacks, the Potato must still be regarded as 

 one of the most valuable commodities for food supply, 

 more especially in the British dominions. Besides the 



Potato continued. 



value of Potatoes for this purpose, the constituent parts 

 of the tubers may be turned to account in other ways, 

 as, for instance, in making Potato starch, which is 

 applicable for use as true arrowroot, and is often called 

 English arrowroot. A powerful spirit is produced by 

 distillation, and wine by a process of fermentation. The 

 Potato may be cooked as a vegetable in an endless 

 variety of ways, in all of which it is usually much 



PROPAGATION. This is effected by seeds or by cuttings 

 of the stem, but chiefly by the planting of tubers either 

 whole or cut into pieces, each of which must contain at 

 least one growing point, which is generally termed an eye. 

 Potato seeds are only sown, as a rule, with a view to 

 raising new varieties. This may be done in early spring, 

 using pans of light soil, which should afterwards be placed 

 in a little heat. The seedlings require pricking off 

 before they become crowded ; they may be transferred to 

 a warm border, in the open, about the middle of May, 

 and treated in a similar way to an ordinary crop. 

 Only small tubers will be produced the first year ; these, 

 lifted in autumn, and preserved from frost, will bear 

 others of larger growth the following season. Propa- 

 gating from cuttings is not much practised, but is avail- 

 able for increasing the stock of any special variety. It 

 consists in planting tubers in a little heat during early 

 spring, and in inserting shoots as cuttings when they are 

 about Sin. long. Tubers intended for planting are often 

 termed " seed," to distinguish them from those required 

 for other purposes. It is a matter of opinion whether 

 they are injured by cutting into pieces, and also as to 

 the suitability of large or small tubers for planting. 

 Generally, it is not advisable to cut Kidney varieties, if 

 they are of a medium size, and a sufficient quantity can 

 be procured for planting. These have often a less 

 number of eyes than Round ones, and, as the ends are 

 pointed, the eyes are situated more closely together, and 

 are not so readily divided. It has been found, from 

 the mean product of two experiments, that cut tubers, 

 used as sets, yielded a greater average than whole ones ; 

 but this is not to be accepted as a rule for general 

 application. The advantage of large, or moderately 

 large, sets over small ones, is obvious when we con- 

 sider that the strength of the eyes and shoots which 

 proceed therefrom is in proportion to the strength 

 of the tuber. All the strongest eyes are situated on 

 what may be called the top end of the tuber, and, when 

 cutting is resorted to, it is a matter of importance to 

 divide so that two, or at least one, of these prominent 

 eyes are secured for each set. When the supply of 

 Potatoes is very limited, both for culinary purposes and 

 for planting, the tubers might be cut in half crossways, 

 the upper portion being reserved as a set, and the other 

 utilised for food. Potatoes intended for planting, par- 

 ticularly the early Kidney varieties, are considered much 

 better for being exposed to the influence of light and 

 sunshine in autumn until they become green throughout, 

 and then stored in a dry shed through the winter. Early 

 in the year, they may with advantage be set on end close 

 together in shallow boxes, and allowed to start very gradu- 

 ally by keeping the boxes, in a light but cool place. The 

 exclusion of frost is all that is requisite; artificial heat 

 will have an injurious effect in encouraging the young 

 shoots to grow fast and become weakened, instead of 

 being short and vigorous. This preparation of seta for 

 planting is requisite for frames, and for early crops out- 

 side, in order that the growth may be advanced before- 

 hand, and their after-success so far insured : main crops 

 inserted at a later and more favourable season seldom 

 receive so much attention in advance. 



It is generally admitted that an occasional change of 

 sets is beneficial in cultivating Potatoes in any district. 

 These should be procured from a different part of the 



