CIjc ||otiit0 CcraittcmiriT. 



By GEORGE F. BUllDER, M.D., F.R. Met. Soc. 



IJROMTNENT among the features of the present day are 

 -J- jubilees, centenaries, tercentenaries, quincentenaries, 

 OTon millenaries ; and celebrations of this kind, if only the 

 subject bo worthy, are to bo commended as supplying a 

 special motive for the study of historical events in their 

 bearings upon the progress of our race. 



The introduction of the potato into Britain was an event 

 of much more than botanical interest, and it was a happy 

 thought to signalise what was believed to be its three hun- 

 dredth anniversary by a conference and exhibition in 

 London, at which should be gathered together all the avail- 

 able means for ascertaining the time and cii'cumstances of 

 the event, as well as for discussing matters bearing upon 

 the future of this valuable root. 



The conference was held in the early part of December, 

 188G, and tlie exhibition is said to have been remarkably 

 rich in materials for illustrating the history of the potato. 

 Nevertheless, the result, so far as relates to the introduction 

 of the plant into this country, is disappointing to those who 

 had not the advantage of being present, nothing, to the best 

 of my knowledge, having been published beyond short 

 abstracts of the proceedings, and very little indication 



