Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1843-07-20
TIE NEW POTATOE

By the annexed letters j, will be seen that inca
sures have been taken for sscertaining by expert
meni the actual value Of a new potaoe so called
which bears its edible part above ground. We
have seen divers notices Of this supposed variety
10 some Of our Northern newspapers and in
some Of the Southern Journals, too, we have seen
paragraphs ridiculing the idea tina, the thing is a
poaioc at all, in any way valuable as an article
Of food Nevertheless cultivation may so improve
as to make it extremely valuable Our poatoe
ia its original state was miserable little lump Of
hard, tough, tns,clcss matter. Therefore we are
glad to learn that the American institute has taken
his vegetable in hand, whatever its mature may be,
& made arrangements for full aud fair experiment.
wss undssssnd thnt about dozen specimens have
obtained and distributed among cutvators, who
are TO make full report Of the result aud bring
in portion Of the product for renewed distrIbu-
ton and irial-N Y Com Adu
JAMES TALMApeE ESQ
Dear sir--With this you will receive some
specimens OF the curions potaloe which mention
cd to you few days since. they were sent to me
from friend in Charleston, and were raised there,
the seed having recently been brought from South
America This singular vegetable is not a radi-
cal OF bulb, bn, is borne above ground, on a vine
which should be trained on a trels. My friend
writes
THE one from which these were gathered COW
cred the end Of piazza and reached the height of
| IL or Is feet. The vine lis beautiful bearing
heau-shaped leaf, and the potatoes--so called-are
of excellent quality"
| have no farther accoun, OF the plant, but con
clude that i, is annual The peculiar character of
It's growth, and the possibility Of its becoming
valuable agricultural product wonld, should
think, enti,Ic to the attention Of those who take
an interest in such matters Whether 1t will
thrive in our climate remains TO be tested. The
mode of propagating it is the same as with the
common potatoe, and it should be placed in rich
soil
With much respect your friend and obi serv,
F. A. BENJAMIN.
New York, June IA, lS43.
Dear sir am enabled to send you a curons
fruit Of the potatoe family, said TO be adapted to
come in its place, and serve as a substitute and an
improvement The letter Of my friend MIR. Ben
jamin will sufficiently indicate its character, con-
corning which several publications OF marvel
lous nature have appeared in print The reality
can now be asscertained by our own experiments,
from the few specimens we have with considerable
difficulty been able to obtain The season has
already so far advanced that to secure the growth
of this potatoe to its maturity, venture TO sug-
gest it should be forthwith planted in rich soil,
and in order for its removal, If necessary, INTO
green house without injury, that it be placed in
suitable box, and frame work provided for its vines
as they may develope
am anxious for your attention and known
Skill as horticuluralis to this interesting mat
ter The boon of the potatoe, herewith sent to
you, is upon the expectation that in addition 10
your care and efforts to cultivate IT, you will re-
port to the fair Of the American Institute partcu'
lars of its treatment and growth, with remarks
upon its progress, and also send part of its pro-
ducc, ifany for future distribution to o,hers.iha,
II useful it may become accessible to our fellow
citizens am, sir YOURS, SC,
JAMES KALAMAZOO.