HISTORY AND BOTANY 7 



e} r es, if desired, and a shoot obtained from each half. 

 As each shoot sets a root it may be broken off and trans- 

 planted, and another may start. By these means and 

 great care a pound of seed tubers has been made to 

 yield 2,558 pounds of potatoes in one season. 



Historical Note. The early history of the potato is obscure. 

 The most authentic information I have secured is that Sir 

 Robert Southwell, the President of the Royal Society of Eng- 

 land, at the meeting held December 13, 1693, stated that the 

 potato was brought into Ireland by his grandfather, who ob- 

 tained tubers from Sir Walter Raleigh, after the return of his 

 expedition from Virginia. This was in the year 1584. It is 

 now believed that Sir Walter Raleigh fitted out this expedi- 

 tion, but did not lead it personally, and never was in Virginia. 



Timbs' '* Curiosities of History," page 233, places the date 

 of its introduction to the British Isles as 1586. 



