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ON THE 



POTATO 



[This paper appeared originally in the Communications to the 

 Board of Agriculture. It was afterwards reprinted, London, 

 8vo. 1795, in the Report of the Committee appointed by the 

 Board, to extract information from the County Reports con- 

 cerning the Culture and Use of Potatoes.] 



Solanum tuberosum, L. — Common Potato. 



History. — The potato is a native of America, and was well 

 known to the Indians, long before the conquest of Mexico 

 and Peru. Gomara, in his General History of the Indies, 

 and Josephus Acosta, are amongst the early Spanish wri- 

 ters who have mentioned the potato by the Indian names, 

 Opcnanch, pape and papas. Clusius, and after him Gerakd, 

 gave figures of the potato plant. Gerard was the first au- 

 thor who gave it the name Solanum tuberosum, which Lin- 

 n.eus and his followers adopted. 



In 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh, so celebrated for his 

 worth, his valour, and his misfortunes, discovered that part 

 of America called Norembega, and by him named Virginia- 

 Whether the Admiral was acquainted with the potato in his 

 first voyage, or whether it was sent to him by Sir Tiioma> 

 Grenville, or Mr Lane, the first Governor of Virginia, is 



