18 THE POTATO CROP. 



with him from Santa Fe. There are also other traditions 

 as to the period and mode of its introduction into Ireland, 

 where it appears to have been known before Sir Walter 

 Raleigh's return ; one of the most probable of which is, 

 that a trading vessel, on her return from a transatlantic 

 voyage, was wrecked on the Gal way coast, and amongst 

 its cargo washed on shore were some curious roots, 

 which, on being cooked and tasted, were so much liked, 

 that some were preserved and planted as a trial, from 

 the successful results of which the cultivation of the potato 

 plant commenced. 



If Sir Walter Raleigh was not the first who introduced 

 the potato into this country, he should have the credit 

 of having been the means of making it more generally 

 known after it was introduced, as he had them planted 

 in his own garden at Youghal, and personally super- 

 intended their growth. An anecdote is related of his 

 first crop, which was well-nigh bringing the career of 

 the new esculent to an untimely close. Sir Walter, 

 on inspecting them one day, considering their growth 

 to be complete, directed that some might be gathered 

 and sent in for cooking. The gardener accordingly 

 gathered the fruit, and furnished the supply ordered. 

 When they were served up and tasted, the company were 

 sorely disappointed in the flavour of the dish of new 

 Virginian fruit, which was most nauseous and unpalat- 

 able; and Sir Walter Raleigh, feeling certain that some 

 noxious weed had been furnished to him instead of the 

 new potato, directed his gardener to pull up the plants 

 forthwith, and eject them from the garden. Whilst this 

 operation was being done, some of the tubers remaining 

 attached to the roots were observed by his master, who 

 at once recognized the mistake that had been made, pre- 

 served them, and gave directions for their future cultiva- 

 tion in a proper manner. 



