*7 
J. C. Eueritt'a Catalogue. 
THE POTATO, 
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE VEGETABLE. 
This valuable and well-known esculent, no.v so widely cultivate l, is a native of the mountainous 
parts of ,rop:cal America, amfwas carried to Europe by adventurers early in the sixteenth century; 
lor we read of its cultivation in th ise countries m 1550. l'he sue of tae potato in its wild state is 
seldom more than an inch in diameter, and its qualitr an l general appearance very far from oeinT 
equal to that ol the perfect specimens that appear on our tables at the present day. 
When first introduced into Europe it cieated great excitement, of a similar nature caused by the 
introduction of tobacco and coffee. Eor many years it was only to be found on the tables of the opu 
lent, where it was used as a dessert, either in the form ol a sweetmeat or as a fruit. 
The first varieties grown in the United slates were brought from Europe, and no variety then 
cultivated would, at the present tim , be considered lit for the table. It continued to be cultivated lor 
a great number ot years without much effort to improve it in any respect, anti in many sections it was 
with the greatest difficulty that the civilized races were persuaded that the potato was good for food ; 
and the time when large farmers raised only a few bushels per year has not yet passed the memory of 
aged people, but it has gradually won its way into popular favor, and becomes one of tiie leading 
crops in ibis and foreign countries 
In the year 1844 the disease, known as the rot, appeared, and nearly destroyed the entire crop. 
Up to that tune it was a very productive crop, and grown at small expense. Since that the yield has 
been greatly decreased, and lately the potato bogs have made their appearance in this country, which 
adds greatly to the cost of its production. But there is always a demand in market at a price greatly 
in advance of the cost of its production. 
About the time ol the rot a lew persons, • among others the late C. E. Goodrich, of Utica, im¬ 
ported a lot of 1 he wild varieties; direct from Siuth America, and proceeded to raise seedlings by 
crossing with the vari ms kinds then in use. M ifiy thousand seedlings were then produced, but few 
of them were brought to any state of perfection. 
One of the principal sorts saved was the Garnet Chili, which had a great reputation, and is the 
parent of many of our hew sorts which are now attracting si muck attention. Twenty-five years ago 
a farmer who raised one hundred bushels of potatoes was looked up in' as having an enormous stock; 
while to-day many of our large growers in the vicinity of our large cities raise lens of thousands of 
bushels each year. 
d'lic potato crop of this country now reaches about ICj,000,000 bushels annually, valued at 
-$100,000,000, and every year notes an increase une pinlled oy any other farm crop. Within this 
period nearly all the iiume ous varieties witn which we are 11 >.w acquainted have been brought into 
notice, and every yeai adds its score of new seedlings to the already overgrown lists. When you 
compare the above figures with those of any 'other cop, and relied to what a great extent many f uni- 
lies are dependent on this vegetable, as their main article of food, you begin to realize its importance. 
Therefore, any hints by which farmers may be enabled to increase its productiveness, or improve Us 
quality, must be acceptable. 
THE USES THE B»«>TAT«>. 
The uses of the potato are numerous aside from their principal use as an article of food. Thou¬ 
sands of bushels are annually muinilaeturcd into starch, and alcohol is distilled from its juices. Even 
sugar has been made; but there is si much c mapetition in this line it has never proved a great success. 
Many of our foremost gardeners are u >w directing their attend in to its improvement and propaga¬ 
tion, and the results of the lew years l.ioor, prov : that progress is onward in this branch of agricul¬ 
ture, and the vari -ties that once stood at die head of ihc isi are now superseded by newer candidates 
for public favor, much their superiors in every respect. l oo much cannot be said in favor ot this 
valuable stapel, and I shall endeavor t 1 instruct my readers in these few pages as to the methods, used 
to increase the supply, without increasing the expense of its cultivation. 
