452 [AsSEMBLT 



country long before its value was known in England; though it 

 was soon carried over from Ireland to Lancashire. Gerarde, who 

 had this plant in his garden in 1797, under the name of Batata 

 Virginiana, recommended the roots to be eaten as a delicate dish, 

 not as common food. Parkinson mentions that the tubers were 

 sometiraes roasted and steeped in sack (dry Lisbon wine,) and 

 sugar, or baked with marrow and spices, and even preserved and 

 candied by the comfit makers. In 1663, the Royal Society took 

 some measures for encouraging the cultivation of the potato, with 

 the view of preventing famine ; but no high character was be- 

 stowed upon them in books of gardening published towards the 

 end of the 17th century. A hundred years after the introduc- 

 tion of the potato, they are spoken of rather slightingly. 



" They are much used in Ireland and America as bread," says 

 our author, " and may be propagated with advantage to poor 

 people. I do not hear that it hath yet been essayed," says ano- 

 ther author, " whether they may not be propagated in great 

 quantities as food for swine or other cattle." Even Evelyn seems 

 to have entertained a prejudice against them. " Plant potatoes 

 in your worst ground ; take them up in November for winter 

 spending; there will enough remain for stock, though ever so 

 exactly gathered:" this was said in 1699. The famous nursery- 

 men, London & Wise, did not consider the potato as worthy of 

 notice in their Complete Gardener ^ published in 1749; and Brad- 

 ley, who about the same time wrote so extensively on horticul- 

 tural subjects, speaks ol them as inferior to skirrets and radishes. 



It was nearly the middle of the eighteenth century before their 

 excellent tjualities were generally known in England. It is now 

 almost generally that seed potatoes taken up before fully ripe 

 never suffer from the disease. It is therefore desii:^ble to procure 

 seed from moorish or from elevated grounds, where the potato 

 seldom gets fully ripe. We prefer to -plant whole potatoes of a 

 medium size, or if cut, to plant the pieces immediately. 



Copy of letter from K. B., of Perth Amloy^ JVew- Jersey, to Henry 

 Meigs, Esq., of the Farmers^ Club, dated Ifecember 16, 1851. 



" Dear Sir — The ready interest you have ever shown in my 

 several attempts to improve an old garden, encourages me to 



