106 FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



any who might attempt to get into the field. 'What, 

 then, is this plant that is guarded with such jealous 

 care?' the peasants asked one another, attracted by 

 the strictness of the prohibitory measures. 'It must 

 be very precious. Let us try to get some when the 

 night is dark. ' 



' ' Some bold maurauders climbed the fence, hastily 

 pulled up a dozen tubers, and scampered off again, 

 looking back to make sure they were not pursued. 

 Not a guard was to be seen. Word soon spread that 

 the field was not guarded at night. Then the pillage 

 began in earnest: the tubers hitherto so despised 

 were carried off by sackfuls. In a few days there 

 was not a potato left in the ground. 



' ' People came and told Parmentier of the devasta- 

 tion of his field. The worthy man wept for joy; the 

 one robbed blessed his robbers. By his ruse he had 

 endowed his country with an inestimable food-sup- 

 ply ; for, once placed in the hands of those who would 

 consent to cultivate it, the potato was valued at its 

 true worth and spread rapidly. ' ' 



"Oh, what a curious story!" cried Louis, when 

 Uncle Paul had finished; "what a curious story! 

 Who would have thought it took all that trouble to 

 make people accept a food that to-day is of such value 

 to us? Is it, then, so very hard to spread a good 

 idea when it is new?" 



"Very hard indeed," replied Uncle Paul, "as 

 those well know who make it their mission to fight 

 against prejudice and ignorance." 



