396 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



tained it from some other portion of this continent. 

 Though called the Irish potato, it is really a native of 

 the western coast of South America, where it is still found 

 wild, both "on dry, sterile mountains, and in damp forests 

 near the sea," whence roots have recently been obtained 

 differing very little from the cultivated varieties. Not- 

 withstanding its excellence and complete adaptation to 

 the English climate 1 , it appears to have come slowly into 

 use. Raleigh planted it on his Irish estate near Cork, but 

 it is only within about a hundred years that its culture 

 has been general, even in Ireland. In 1780 very few indi- 

 viduals in America raised as large a crop as five bushels. 

 Of the numerous varieties now used the best, perhaps, 

 for garden culture in the South are the following: 



Early Varieties. — Beauty of Hebron, Pride of the 

 South, Triumph, and Early Essex. 



Medium Varieties. — Early Rose, Early Puritan, and 

 Late Beauty of Hebron. 



Late Varieties. — Burbank, Gannon No. 1, Peerless, 

 Pearl of Savoy, Rural New Yorker No. 2, and Rochester. 



At the South a potato is required that will continue 

 growing through the long summer. The common sorts 

 ripen early, and commence new growth, so that it is very 

 difficult to keep them in their dry, mealy state. Starting 

 the buds has the same effect upon these tubers as upon 

 the grains of wheat which lose their starch by conversion 

 into sugar and dextrine, making both the flour and tuber, 

 when cooked, far less palatable and nourishing. 



Potash and phosphate of magnesia are indicated by 

 analysis to be the most important inorganic elements of 

 the plant. Wood ashes will furnish most of the constit- 

 uents required from the soil. 



Culture. — The Irish potato likes a cool, moist climate 

 and soil like those of Ireland. The soil should be well 

 enriched with vegetable and not with animal manure. 



