CHAPTER V 
THE POTATO AND THE POMATO 
Lp eeerey in line with many of what 
may be called the commercial achieve- 
ments of Mr. Burbank,—though these are no 
less wonderful than those which have had a 
more esthetic bearing,—is his work in the 
production of the potato. It was this vegeta- 
ble, as has elsewhere been noted, which 
originally brought Mr. Burbank’s name into 
prominence, and all through the years that 
have intervened since its creation it has had 
a large influence not only upon the wealth of 
the nations but upon the dietary of the people 
of many countries. Recent reports from Ire- 
land show that the Burbank potato bids fair 
to redeem that long-distressed island from 
famine, because of its ability to withstand the 
diseases which have destroyed other varieties. 
For many years Mr. Burbank has been at 
work upon new varieties of potatoes. Even 
though the one that bears his name has 
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