149 



he dlstlngulslies it from the sweet potato. Matthcolus, also, in his 

 Commentarj, speaks of it as having been first brought from Virginia 

 to England ; and adds that the Spaniards called it Pappas.* Some- 

 thing to the same purport is found in the " Universal History of 

 Plants," published in 1651. f And a century earlier, Cicero says it 

 was cultivated in Italy. After all, we cannot help thinking that the 

 potato was probably brought to England from Spain or Italy. To 

 these countries it has been introduced from the Spanish settlements 

 in Chili, and had been cultivated there long before it was known in 

 England. The commercial enterprise of Southern Europe, and the 

 frequent intercourse of that part of the continent with England, 

 would easily account for its appearance in the latter country. 



The discoverers found tobacco, Indian corn and potatoes growing 

 at the places they visited. The only one of the three which impairs the 

 value and shortens the duration of life, became the earliest favorite; 

 while the potato, which hag since furnished food to millions, was long 

 neglected. Nearly fifty years after its introduction the Royal 

 Society began to notice it with a view to encourage its growth. Not 

 that it had found its way to their tables unless as a luxury, steeped 

 in wine or preserved in sugar, as the sweet potato was long before. 

 Their thought was, that by adding another to the edible vegetables 

 then in use, they might diminish the danger of famine, an evil of 

 more frequent occurrence than now. The Royal Society considered 

 it a desirable last resort, little anticipating that it would become a 

 staple agricultural production. It is not mentioned in a review of 

 the state of agriculture in the kingdom for 1685. Its culture was 

 encouraged in Ireland on the ground that it furnished cheap food to 

 poor people, was easily raised, adapted itself to the climate and was 

 not fastidious as to soil4 In 1699 Evelyn said, " Plant potatoes 

 in your poorest land," implying that they were undeserving of the 

 best. It was not till the middle of the last century that the potato 

 was generally known in England ; and its cultivation was rather 

 enforced by the partial failure of grain. In France also strong pre- 

 judices prevailed against its introduction as an article of food, — • 



* Mat. Comm. p. 758. t Vol. 3, p. 622. 



J The Gardener's Kalendar for 1703 says, "The root is very near the nature of 

 the Jerusalem artichoke, although not so good and wholesome ; but it may prove 

 good for swine." 



