176 



THE POTATOi TERCENTENAUT. 



not only with the grains of wheat, bailey, oats, pease, and 

 the like, but also should admit a part (suppose a third part 

 to these grains) of some fat roots, such as- are potado roots, 

 pith of artichokes, burr& roots, or some otlier sweet and 

 esculent roots ; wo suppose it would be a more useful drink 

 for long life than ale made of grains only." (Montagu's ed. 

 of Bacon's Works, vol. xiv., p. 383.) This passage has been 

 quoted as referring to the solarmm potato, but considering 

 the date and the absence of any distinctive addition, I should 

 think it quite as likely that the sweet potato was intended. 



At a little earlier date (IGIH), Queen Anne (wife of 

 James I.) is said to have entered in her diary a purchase of 

 potatoes at two shillings a pound, but without farther par- 

 ticulars it would be impossible to say certainly which kind 

 was meant. 



With our knowledge, it is strange to see how very slowly 

 the now vegetable crept into favour. In March,, 1662-3, at 

 a mooting of the lioyal Society, a letter wiis road from Mr. 

 Buckland, a Somerset gentleman, recommending the plant- 

 ing of potatoes, in all pai'ts of the kingdom, to- prevent 

 famine. Lancashire took the lead in the cultivation. In 

 1684 potatoes were first planted in open fields in that 

 county, and in 1728 in Scotland. But it was not until 

 about 1750 that potato fields had become at all general in 



from that givcni by Glusius, iu Ins Rariorum I'lantamm UUloriii.,. lib. iv., 

 cap. r,2 (1(501). 



With regard to tho other paasaKO (Troilm and Cressida, Act V., Sc. 2), 

 the figure may admit of interpretation under either view. 



It is even possible that the word "potato " may have boon used by 

 Shakespeare (perhaps also by Bacon in the quotation which follows) in a 

 sense inclusive of both varieties, for it should be remembered that the 

 botanical distinctions which now require us to consider the two roots as 

 widely different products were then unlmown.. 



