344 GARDEN FARMING 



quoted by de 1'Ecluse for Quito." l It appears from this state- 

 ment that the potato had been cultivated for generations prior to 

 the discovery of the plant by Europeans, so that, even when it 

 came to the attention of continentals, it was by no means a wild 

 plant. It is further evident that the potato was introduced into 

 Europe between the middle and the last of the sixteenth century, 

 probably about 1585 or 1586. It is possible, however, that it was 

 carried to continental Europe at an earlier date than this, per- 

 haps as early as 1535, although there is no conclusive evidence 

 of this. 



Besides Solanum tuberosum, the common type of the potato, 

 another tuber-bearing species, indigenous to low, moist areas and 

 subtropical climates, has, during late years, attracted considerable 

 attention. This is Solamim commersonii, a native of Brazil and 

 parts of the Andes north of Chile, from which region another sol- 

 anaceous plant of great economic importance has come, namely, 

 the tomato. The Solanum commersonii, so far as present knowl- 

 edge goes, is a plant of comparatively little economic value. It 

 has an advantage over Solanum tuberosum in that it is adapted to 

 moist grounds and to higher temperatures. 



De Candolle sums up his investigations into the history of the 

 potato as follows : 



1 . The potato is wild in Chile, in a form which is still seen in our cultivated 

 plants. 



2. It is very doubtful whether its natural home extends to Peru and New 

 Granada. 



3. Its cultivation was diffused before the discovery of America from Chile 

 to New Granada. 



4. It was introduced probably in the latter half of the sixteenth century, 

 into that part of the United States now known as Virginia and North Carolina. 



5. It was imported into Europe between 1580 and 1585, first by the Span- 

 iards and afterwards by the English, at the time of Raleigh's voyages to 

 Virginia. 2 



The following discussion of potatoes will be made under three 

 heads : (i) Potatoes as a Farm Crop at the North ; (2) Potatoes 

 as a Truck Crop at the South ; and (3) Potatoes under Irrigation. 



1 De Candolle, " Origin of Cultivated Plants," p. 45. 



2 For a full account of the origin of the potato the reader is referred to De 

 Candolle's " Origin of Cultivated Plants," pp. 45-53. 



