The Potato Boom 



the growers' pockets and the public's taste, until 

 it loses its vigour, or the taste alters, and it is sup- 

 planted by a newcomer. A generation ago, the 

 Ashleaf, Skerry, and Magnum Bonum were fa- 

 vourites, but to-day they are almost extinct as a 

 field potato. Perhaps the most notable potato ever 

 introduced was the Up-to-date, which paid its 

 first growers handsomely. In fact, any variety that 

 becomes in demand must pay the first growers, 

 because, instead of selling their produce at current 

 rates in the markets, they dispose of them for seed 

 purposes at much higher prices, and it was this that 

 formed the foundation of the Boom. 



The Great Boom was the most astonishing inci- 

 dent of British agriculture. It arose mysteriously, 

 reached an astounding height, and collapsed sud- 

 denly. Those involved were drawn blindly on- 

 ward, awaking later as from an ugly dream, 

 rubbing their eyes. Farmers, of course, are accus- 

 tomed to high prices for pedigree animals, and 

 £1,000 has been made before now of a ram, a bull, 

 or a stallion, so that a similar price for pedigree 

 potatoes to breed improved and profitable stocks 

 was but another step in the same direction. This 

 partly explains why the most conservative body of 

 men in our country fell victims to a frenzy without 

 parallel in agricultural history. 



At the close of the nineteenth centurv and 



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