The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-07-25

Il
genous state in Chill, on the mountains
near Valparaiso and Mendoza, also near
Monteyido, Lima Quito, as we'll as in
Santa Fe de Bogota, and more recently
in Mexico, on the fanks Of the Orizaba.
1t was introduced into Spain in the early
part Of the sixteenth century, from the
neighborhood of Quito. The first pub
lished account Of it on record is in La
Cronica del Peru, by Pedro de Cieca,
printed at Seville in 1853, in which it is
described and illustrated by an engraving.
From Spain it appears to have found its
way into Italy. 1t was received by Clus-
Jus at Vienna, in 1893, in whose time it
spread rapidly in the south Of Europe, and
even into Germany. To England, it is
said to have found its way by different
route, having been brought from Virginia
by Raleigh's colonists in 1855, which
would seem improbable, as it was un-
known in North America at that time,
either wild or cultivated, and, besides.
Cough, in his edition Of Camdenis Brit
tania, says it was first planted by Sir
Walter Raleigh on his estate at Yonghall,
near Cork, and that it was cultivated in
Ireland before its value was known in
England. Gerard in his "Herbae" pub
lished in 1907, gives figure of the plant
under the name Of Batata Virginiana TO
distinguish it from the sweet potato, Bata-
Ia Edulis, and recommends the roots to
be eaten as delicate dish, but not as a
common food. The sweet potato, says
Sir Joseph Banks, was used in England
as a delicacy long before the Irish potato.
1t was imported from Spain and the Ca.
naries, and was supposed to possess the
power Of restoring decayed vigor. 1t is
related that the Irish potato was acci-
dentslly introduced into England from
Ireland at period earlier than that noticed
by Gerard, in consequence Of the wreck
ing OF vessel on the coast of Lancas.
shire, which had quantity on board.
Notwithstanding its utility, no high char
acter was attached to it, and the writer's
on gardening, towards the end os the 18th
century, hundred years after its intro
duction, treated it rather indifferently. II
was not considered worthy Of notice by the
famous nursery men London and Wise,
in their complete Gardener" published
in l7l9. But its use gradually spread
as its exeellencies became better under.
stood. The period Of introduction into
the North American colonies is not pre-
cisely known. II is mentioned among the
products Of Carolina and Virginia in 1749,
and among those growing in New York,
anil New England the same year, they
Sab sSs asi .s flssa ana IN asie asS 81
Of good use. The varieties, at that time,
were the "Rough Coats" "Red Coats"
and Flat Whites" In 1870, are men.
toned the Redish," the Blush" the
"White," and the "French" potatoes the
latter Of which were fiattened in their
shape, and Of good flavor.
The famous Mercer" or Meshanock
potato, Of the present day, were grown on
Meshanoek creek, by Joseph Gilkey, of
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in about
1928"
When commenced this article, Mr..
Editor. had no Idea Of going into the
history Of the Irish potato, but simply
stating the value Of hogs hair as manure;
out | trust that the history may not be
uninteresting to your readers. It was q
subject Of interest TO me, when first read
it in the Patent Office Report. It is
somewhat condensed in this commur lea.
ton. 1t is the Irish potato" and the
history is not full enough as to its introduc-
ton into and cultivation in Ireland. There
its cultivation has been reduced TO per-
lection, and her population greatly de-
pendent on it for food. Her people, too,
'press deep" the spade, "press deep" the
plow, which will cause the earth 10 yield
its fatness.
LONG GRABS.
July 18th 1855.