CHAPTER V 



THE POTATO AND THE POMATO 



"P|IRECTLY in line with many of what 

 -*-^ may be called the commercial achieve- 

 ments of Mr. Burbank, — though these are no 

 less wonderful than those which have had a 

 more aesthetic bearing, — is his work in the 

 production of the potato. It was this vegeta- 

 ble, as has elsewhere been noted, which 

 originally brought Mr. Burbank's name into 

 prominence, and all through the years that 

 have intervened since its creation it has had 

 a large influence not only upon the wealth of 

 the nations but upon the dietary of the people 

 of many countries. Recent reports from Ire- 

 land show that the Burbank potato bids fair 

 to redeem that long -distressed island from 

 famine, because of its ability to withstand the 

 diseases which have destroyed other varieties. 

 For many years Mr. Burbank has been at 

 work upon new varieties of potatoes. Even 

 though the one that bears his name has 



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