Chap. 577- “Englijh Herbs. 
9 ° 5 
CHAP. DLXXVII. 
Of POTATO, 
Spaniih , Virginian , and Engliih. 
I. 'T' H F. Naims. It lias no Greek Name 
X that we know of: but it is called 
by our Modem Authors Battuta, Batlatas , 
Anuses , Camotes , Ignaties , Ft Inhumes ; and 
by the Indians , Papas , Fa pits , and Pap- 
pits-, we in Englijh call it, Pot aw , and Pt>- 
t JlUS. 
II. The Kinds. There are three fevetal 
Species of this Plant, which are almoft as 
different one from another , as they ate every 
one of them different from the Jcrujalen: 
Hartichoke. I. The hi it is Batlatas, five Pap- 
fas Hifpaniarum , The Spaniih Potato, becaufe 
it grows nor only in Spain , but in all the 
Spanifh IVeft-Indies ; as all'o every where almoft in 
our IVeli-India Plantations. 2. Pappas vel Bat- 
tata Virginiana , The Virginian Potato, which 
grows wild not only in Virginia, but almoft 
every where thro’ the whole Continent of 
Florida. 3. Pappa Jets Battata Anglicana feu 
Hiberniana , The Engliih or Irifh Potato , 
which grows in valt plenty in many of 
our Englijh Gardens , fo that now the 
Roots are fold by Bufhels in our London 
Markets. . 
The Dcfcriplions. 
III. The firft , or Spaniih Potato. It has 
many firm and fweet Roots, which being boiled, 
baked , or Roajted, are of a pleafant fweet 
Tafle, exceeding in ielicioufnej s any other Root 
wbatfoever : it is in Jhape and form fomewhat like 
so Afphodil Root , tuberous, knobby, and from 
two to eight or ten Inches in length , more or 
left, with an anfwerable thicknefs-, much greater 
than Afphodil Roots , and larger at one end 
than at another: fome forts of them are long- 
er , others rounder and thicker ; fome of them 
of a white color, fome of a yellow color, others 
if a pale brown, and fome of a kind of red- 
tjh color-, and of a white, or yellowijh white 
within , the whole Root being of one /olid , corn- 
pail, or uniform SubJIance, without any Heart 
or Pith in the middle , as Carrots and Parfneps 
have-, many of them J fringing and growing as 
it were from one Head. Prom the Head of 
thefe Roots fpring up many long Branches , 
which by reafon of their weight and weaknefs 
sannot Jiand of themfelves , but trail on the 
Ground, a Hard or ford and half in length , 
tr more, on which are J'et at feveral diftances, 
broad, and in a manner triangular , or three 
cornered Leaves , not very much unlike to thofe 
of Ivy , foff in feeling to, and of a dark green 
color, the two fides whereof are broad and 
round, as to the middle pan thereof, but point- 
ed at the end, and growing pretty clofe to- 
gether. 
Spanifh “Potatoes 
IV. The Jecond , or Virginian Potato. The 
Root of this k nothing like the former neither in 
form, magnitude, color, nor tafte , nor refembles it 
in any thing but the folid , comp all, uniform 
SubJIance thereof. The Roots are fmall , fome 
about the bignefs of Wall-Nuts, green and all, 
fome lejfer by much , and others greater ; fome cf 
them almoft round, fome oval, fome of a long round 
and almoft pointed at each end, jome fmooth, others 
knobby, all of them being tuberous , of a dirty brown 
wbitijh color on the out fide, and white within ; not 
of a pleafant fweet Tafte , as the Spaniih are, but 
rather of a Flatulent , or infipid Tafte, which yet 
being boiled, baked, or roafted-, and eaten with 
Butter , Salt, Vinegar, and a little Sugar, are moil 
admirable Food, and not much inferior to thofe of 
the Spanifh Kind, (both forts cf them, as alfo the 
Engliih following, being very mealy when they are 
dreft, for which reafon they require a great deal 
of Butter .) It has many weak and fomewhat 
flexible Branches , leaning a little downwards, or 
eafily born down with the Wind or other things, 
befet with many Winged Leaves, of a dark grayifh 
green color, whereof divers are Jmaller, and Jome 
5 2 greater 
