96 HORTICULTURE FOR SCHOOLS 



into Europe at the beginning of the sixteenth century. It 

 found its way from Spain to Italy, and from there it was 

 carried to Belgium. It soon became common in central 

 Europe. It is said that Sir Walter Raleigh took potatoes 

 from America to the British Isles in 1585. Potatoes were 

 soon grown to a considerable extent in Ireland, but were not 

 introduced into Scotland until 1725. By 1750 the potato 

 was grown extensively in nearly all parts of Europe. 



While the greater part of the world's supply is produced in 

 Europe, America ranks high in the production of potatoes. 

 The potato is sixth in value among the crops cultivated in 

 the United States, 40 per cent of the crop being produced in 

 eleven states: namely, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Penn- 

 sylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, 

 Minnesota, and California. Potato culture is the main horti- 

 cultural industry of New Brunswick; it is important in 

 British Columbia, and, is carried on extensively in the 

 other vegetable-producing sections of the Dominion of 

 Canada. 



For planting it is important to select good medium-sized 

 tubers free from disease. The tubers produce the new plants 

 from the eyes or buds. It is common to cut the tubers in 

 pieces of about two ounces in weight, each piece containing 

 at least two eyes. The distal end of the potato (the end 

 farthest from the point where it was attached to the parent 

 plant) contains the best growing eyes. It is advisable, 

 although not absolutely necessary, to cut the tuber so that 

 one or more of the better growing eyes are on each 

 piece. 



If potatoes are stored in a warm cellar, they will produce 

 long sprouts before planting time has arrived. This should 

 be avoided by storage at a low temperature, since the removal 

 of the sprouts lessens the vitality of the tuber. On the other 

 hand, it is desirable to place the potatoes in a warm room for 

 a few days before planting, since this will start the eyes into 



