POTATOES 343 



Since the introduction of the potato into cultivation, it has played 

 a very important part in sustaining the human race. It received 

 its name, Irish potato, from the fact that it is one of the standard 

 foods of the Irish people. Because of its enormous yields and its 

 easy cultivation, it has grown to be an important economic factor 

 in the maintenance of the dense population of that country. 



Botany. The term " potato," when not modified by an adjective, 

 suggests to the mind of the American the so-called Irish potato 

 (Solarium tuberosum}. When the name is modified by the word 

 " sweet," reference is made to a different plant, belonging to the 

 Morning-glory family and known botanically as Ipomcea batatas. 

 In this section attention will be given only to the Irish potato. 



Origin and distribution. This plant, which is now recognized as 

 an important article of food, as well as an important commercial 

 crop throughout the north-temperate regions of the earth, is of 

 American origin. Among the New World plants which have been 

 brought under cultivation since the discovery of America, it stands 

 out as one of the most important, being second only to Indian corn. 

 The world over, the potato is probably eaten by a greater propor- 

 tion of the earth's inhabitants than any other crop except rice. The 

 potato early found a wide use throughout Great Britain and the 

 northern part of the continent of Europe. With the development 

 of the New World it immediately became an important garden crop, 

 and its cultivation has kept pace with the increase in population 

 until now it is distributed over the entire area of North America 

 occupied by civilized peoples. It is a commercial product in Mexico 

 as well as in Alaska. The distribution of the potato has followed 

 the progress of civilized man. Into every country which the white 

 race has penetrated, the potato has been carried, sometimes with 

 success, sometimes with failure, but an attempt to introduce it has 

 always been made. 



As before stated, this plant is of American origin, and De Can- 

 dolle says : " It is proved beyond a doubt that at the time of the 

 discovery of America the cultivation of the potato was practiced, 

 with every appearance of ancient usage, in the temperate regions 

 extending from Chile to New Granada, at altitudes varying with 

 the latitude. This appears from the testimony of all the early trav- 

 elers, among whom I shall name Acosta for Peru, and Pedro Cieca, 



