Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-02-05
The pOtatOe.

We have been much pleased wilha lecture deliv-
cred a shoc, period since by f. D.. Mansfield, de
voted to a statements among others, 81 the vaIu-
able discoveries IN the scIence Of Agriculture.
The lecture was rep!ete with important truths,
and would be well worthy the attention Of any
one. This lecture induced rs TO examine into
some Of the Eicts there presented, aud upon the
subject Of Potatoes wo have thought an extract
or Two from tho lecture, and a fact or two from
statistics, would be ntoresting-we therefore pre-
sent them.
Tho Poia,oo is n native Of America. In South
America This vegetable grows in great profusiun,
having q fine flavor, and differing much IN tins
and the usual shape from those growu IN the Uni
ted States. In Europe 800 years ago, this vegt-
table was unknown; even 100 years since, IL was
not very exteuGiveiy used. In an account Of
James the FIRST, dat=d 1916, be is charged with
potatoes a, n rate equal to about Sl2 per bush
ell. In 1910, Sir Walter Raleigh introduced the po-
tatoe into Ireland; and since that period, the lee
tut or stated The growth had extended with unpre-
cedented %rapIdIty, and now we see The potatoe
constituting three. fourihs the entire food Of the
people of Ireland; and a density of population sus
tanned there, of which, without them, this Island
would be inca pa bie.h
1.-The consequences OF The glf, Of the potatoe,
in the support Of human fe. TO the physical wei
fare OF tho human race, are almost peyonu peIIeI.
1t is ascertained tina, the nutrI'ive power OF the
polatoe is abou, one fifth tina, of wheat, the most
valuable of grains; bu. the average number OF
pounds per acre IN potatoes, IS 10 times that OF
wheat, consequently. the sustaining power CT an
acre of potatoes is double that OF wheat. The
population therefore of a pota,oe feeding country,
other things being equal, may be made double
tina, of one sustained by other grain or vegetable
food. Such a fact has incalcuIable consequences
upon tho future multiplication and sustenance OF
the human family"
These facts, as to the power Of cultivation and
sustaining life, are important. The census ia
bles of lS40, return the growth Of that year IN
he United States TO be 81 1890, 100 bushels, not
including North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan
and Florida. and of This sum there was raised IN
Ohio 5.6297S4, in Maine l0,392,3So, and IN New
York 10000 0S. The growth fthe latter State
is more than three times thst OF any other. This
shows that this vegetable is extensively cultiva-
ted, although the yield Is far short Of the produ-
cling power of the soil. Ia 1910 the export was
valued at SSf,52i, and the import at $4,000
The average value Of The poiatoe is abou, %
cents per bushel, and. deductlag that as above, the
consumption of the United States is about 50.
IT'S, 76i, or abou, 5 bushels 10 each person. The
wheat produc, of tho United States in 1910 was
1884, 100 bushels. The low price of the pota-
toe, considered with reference 10 lis nutrition pow
err, is abou, equal to tina, Of wheat. The cspaci>
~ of our soil viii enable Us, with a fair market
for wheat or potatoe, or with free trade, 10 supply
the world.