Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-07-06
MI s c & Z I A N Y !.
THE COmMON Potato.

It's pretty generally understood that
the potato is indigenous 10 Chill and Pc
ru, in which countries it grows wild.
The plan. is very common about Valpar-
also, and Mr.. Cruikshank says, that he
has noticed it a.ong the coast for fifteen
leagues to the northward Of that port
There is one popularity ascribed to the
wild plant by the gentleman, viz. that the
flowers were all pure white, free from the
purple tint so common in the cultivated
varieties. Amidst conflicting testimony
and opinions on the subject, we must give
10 Sir Walter Raleigh the credit Of intTo-
ducing the potato. Its introduction into
Ireland by him in 1910, is well authenti-
Gated by corroborative testimony. Among
the anecdotes told of this enterprising
voyager, it is said when his gardener az
| Younghall in the county of Cork, had.
reared TO the full maturity of apples the
potatoes which be had received from the.
knight, as a fine fruit from America, the
man brought 10 his master one of the ap-
4 pies, and asked if that was the fine fruit.
Sir Walter having examined it, was, or
feigned to be so dissatisfied, that he order
i ed the "weed' to be rooted out. The
gardener obeyed, and in roofing out the
| weeds found bushel Of potatoes.
( The discrepancy Of opinion respecting
| the introduction of the potato into Europe,
seems To- have arisen sfrom confounding
the swecgwith the common potato. The
latter was introduced into Europe long
before the former, and il seems mos: prob.
labla ,dat - ,,,oS th< e,a.;as ~, fro,,
New Granada BY Hawkins.
Potatoes were first looked upon as a
great deli:acy, and cultivated by very
few. The Royal Society, in 1868, en-
couraged more extensive cultivation oil
them as means of preventing famine.
Previously TO 1864, they were raised on
ly in gardens Of the nobility and gentry
: but in tina. year, they were planted, for
1.-The first time, in the open fields OF Lanca-
shire--a county in which they have ever
been very extensively cultivated Their
growth was more rapidly extended in Ire.
land than in England. and they have long
furnished from two thirds 10 four f!ths Of
the entire food Of the people of Ireland
Potatoes were not raised in Scotland, ex,
cept in gardens, till 1928, when they were
planted in the open fields by person by
1.-The nams Of Prentice, day labore- al
KilsyIh.
Some Of the good people 10 Scotland
4 were opposed, at first. to the new vegeta
bic, declaring that "potatoes were no
mentioned in the Bible.n Some of III,
priests 10 the Ioniau Islands, at later pc
riod. opponents probably of the prejudice
ofthe people. manifested their hostility b.
alleging that The potato was the forbiddel
fruit, the cause of mans fall and of cours
its use was both immoral and irreligious
OF piece with this was the hostility {
the French to the growth of the potato i
their country. in the voting against B,
nevolent gentleman who took pains TO 70.
ter its culture, under the plea that he ha
invented the potato.
The potato was introduced from Ems
land into the Netherlands, and thence inl
Germany. ia the early part of the la
century. 1t was first cultivated in Sw
den in 1870, but notwithstanding the e.
ertions and Recommendation of Linus
as, It did not come into general cultivate
until l764, when royal edict was pu
"A lished for the encouragement ofthis branc
OF husbandTy.
La France. much of the final success
its more extended cultivation was due
Intersections of the benevolent Parme
tier, who perseyered amidst open oppo.
ton and ridicule Of all kinds. For
while. the king. Lonis XVI. and his cou
wore the flower of the potato in the b
.on.noles OF their coats. as means of {
listing popular favor. or, what at that til
was equivalent. fashion, on its side. T
dearth, in the first years Of the revolu,ic
served to direct attention more and INC
to the cultivation Of the potato. which.
ter time. became general. To Il ",
the people Of France and other parts
Europe indebted for protection agai
famine. IN the disastrous years Of l6
Iht and 1917 We might suppose, howey
IroSSn h., IL Al Il