■CHAPTER VIII. 

 THE POTATO 



History. — The natural habitat lies in the highlands of 

 Chile and Peru, whence (at the time of the Spanish conquest 

 of Peru in 1533-1535) it was taken to Spain. It was grown in 

 Europe for some time before its introduction from Virginia 

 into England by Sir V^'^alter Raleigh, who, in 1585 or 1586, 

 cultivated potatoes on his estate in Cork, Ireland. It rapidly 

 became one of the world's principal articles of diet, and, on 

 account of its intimate association with the history of the 

 latter country, it is often spoken of as the Irish Potato. The 

 following are some interesting figures of production in bushels : 



About 90 per cent, of the total production is grown in 

 Europe, The average Australian and African production for 

 1908-12 was -26 per cent, and -09 per cent., respectively, of 

 the world's production. The potato crop's average position 

 for 1908-1912 among the worid's crops is given by Gilbert as 

 follows — viz. :* — 



Potatoes 



Maize 



Wheat 



Oats 



Rice 



Rye 



Barley 



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