116 A. EB. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 528 
In early times the corn was often badly damaged by “ weevils,” 
causing great loss.* It was early accidentally discovered that if it 
were kept with the husks on the ears it was much less liable to be 
damaged in that way. During the 17th century large amounts of 
corn were exported to the West Indies, but no definite figures are 
usually given. It was also sold to vessels touching at the Bermudas 
for supples. The amount raised in 1900 was 1,301 bushels. 
h.— Potatoes, Onions, Tomatoes. 
Potatoes were first raised here in 1613, and soon became very 
abundant. They were early shipped to the West Indies, Virginia, 
and New England. In 1620, 20,000 bushels were shipped to Vir- 
ginia. A large supply was sent to New England in 1636, in a time 
of scarcity there.t They have always formed a staple article of food 
in Bermuda, and also one of the most important exports. In modern 
times the quantity annually shipped to New York has been large, as 
compared with the amount of land in cultivation. (See table.) 
According to Governor Lefroy the amount shipped in 1876 was 
33,099 barrels or 2,260 tons. General Hastings stated that in 1890-91, 
80,000 bushels were shipped, on which the duty was $20,000. 
The largest crop that I have seen recorded was in 1882, viz: 
40,503 barrels, valued at £76,560. ‘The smallest crop in 20 years. 
was 13,390 barrels, in 1885, valued at £15,091. During this period 
the crop has generally been between 20,000 and 30,000 barrels. 
The seed potatoes are all imported into Bermuda from the north- 
ern United States and the British Provinces. Various early varieties 
are cultivated, but to be saleable in New York they must be more 
or less red, like the Early Rose, Garnet, Prolific, etc., otherwise 
they would not be thought genuine by many.{ They are planted 
from Oct. 15 to Feb. 15, and mature in 80 to 90 days. 
* Probably Sitophilus granarius, the grain and corn weevil of Europe and 
America. (See ch. 87.) 
+ January 8, 1636, the following arrival is recorded: ‘‘The Rebecca arrived 
in Massachusetts Bay from Bermuda, with thirty thousand weight of potatoes 
and stores of oranges and limes which are a great relief to our people—but their 
corn was sold to the West Indies three months before. Potatoes were bought 
there for two shillings and eight pence the bushell, and sold here for two pence 
the pound.” 
t It seems to be popularly believed, in our cities, that the Bermuda potatoes 
belong to a red variety peculiar to those islands, and some imagine that the 
color is due to the redness of the soil there. 
Potato plants, in Bermuda, do not grow just as in the United States, for they 
form much shorter and less branched roots. Each plant usually produces only 
