HISTORY OF THE POTATO. 35 



1584, or rather after his last voyage, eleven years 

 later ; but if so, it was much confined in its culture, 

 and slowly acquired estimation, even in that island ; 

 for Dr. Campbell does not admit that it was known 

 there before the year 1610, fifteen years after Sir 

 Walter's final return. In England it seems to have 

 been yet more tardy in obtaining notice ; for the 

 first mention which I can find, wherein this tuber is 

 regarded as possessing any virtue, is by that great 

 man Sir Francis Bacon, who investigated nature 

 from the " cedar that is in Lebanon even unto the 

 hyssop that spfingeth out of the wall : he spake 

 also of beasts, and of fowls, and of fishes, and of 

 creeping things," in his history of (i Life and 

 Death, 1 ' written, probably, in retirement after his 

 disgrace. He observes, that " if ale was brewed 

 with one-fourth part of some fat root, such as the 

 potado, to three-fourths of grain, it would be more 

 conducive to longevity than with grain alone." It 

 was thus full twenty-four years after its being 

 planted by Gerard, that the nutritive virtues of 

 this root appear to have been understood : but 

 with us there seems to have been almost an antipathy 

 against this root as an article of food, which can 

 scarcely excite surprise^ when we consider what a 

 wretched sort must have been grown, which one 

 writer tells us was very near the nature of Jerusalem 

 artichokes, but not so good or wholesome ; and 

 that they were to be roasted and sliced, and eaten 



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