THE POTATO HAS POISONOUS RELATIVES 
dens as an ornamental plant. It was not until the middle 
of the last century that it was eaten to any considerable 
extent. Now it ranks third among vegetables in the num¬ 
ber grown and eaten. The pepper is another nightshade. 
So is the eggplant. So is the Jimson weed. 
But the potato is the greatest of the American mem¬ 
bers of this poison plant family, which has become such 
a large food-producer. The native home of the plant was 
the mountain regions of the Andes. When Spaniards first 
went to Peru, they found the natives cultivating it for the 
tubers that grew on its roots. These tubers were the 
staple food of the Peruvians. 
The Spaniards introduced the potato to Europe. It 
first became popular in Italy. Later Sir Walter Raleigh 
planted potatoes on his estate near Cork, Ireland. The 
crop immediately became popular in that land because 
there were so many people and so little land. Potatoes 
would produce more food to the acre than any other crop. 
Sir Walter also tried to get England to adopt the po¬ 
tato. Queen Elizabeth served it at court at his request. 
But its use was fought because it was a nightshade. The 
fact that potatoes are sometimes called spuds is said to 
have originated from the initials of the Society to Prevent 
Unwholesome Diet. 
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