CHAPTER XXI. 



THE POTATO. 



History. — The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is one 

 of the few food plants of great value to the world 

 which was native to America. It has been found 

 growing wild both in South and North America, from 

 Chile to New Mexico. It had been cultivated in a 

 rude way by the natives of parts of South America 

 before the discovery of the continent by the Spaniards, 

 It is not certainly known that it had been so cultivated 

 in what is now the United States. It is thought it was 

 introduced into some of the early settlements by the 

 Spaniards, who also took it to Europe, probably about 

 1550. It was grown in a very small way in several 

 countries in the west of Europe, but attracted little 

 attention until near the end of the sixteenth century. 

 Sir Walter Raleigh took some of the tubers to Eng- 

 land in 1586 and brought them to the attention of 

 Queen Elizabeth. 



The culture of the crop was a long time in becom- 

 ing general. It was first grown largely in Ireland. 

 It is scarcely more than one hundred years since its 

 culture became general in the west of Europe. Even 

 in America it was long in attracting the attention it 

 deserved. It is now largely grown in many parts of 

 the civilized world. Although best adapted to a tem- 

 perate climate, it is grown in tropical regions and also 

 very far north. Next to the cereals it is the most im- 

 portant food plant for man. 



While there are many varieties and great differences 



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