, 1874-06-06
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.
THE POTATO.

TIE POTATO.
The potato (So|anum tudurosttnt) iH : native
Of America, md fs probably indigenous from
Chill to Mexico. Tho Wild plant diffora little
from tho cultivated, except that lta tubora arc
sn,allor. It was first introduced into Europe
carly in tho ei1teonth contnry, by tho spanianas,
who discovered It In tho vicinity Of Quito. From
8pnin 1t spread into tho Ncthorthnds, burgundy,
and Italy; but was for many years cultivated as
curiosity, and not an artic1o OF dict. In 1868
1t waB carried from Spain to ireland by Capt.
Hawkins. slayo-traderi ana in 1855 It was
to EnGend itG;In " sr Fransa DrakS bt It
imported from Amorloa by Sir Walter Raleigh,
in 1G33' Thomas Horot, 4 mathematician, aud
ono Of tho adronturors who accompanied
Sir Walter ralcigh In lhs voyage Of discovery
Of the plant: Tho roots Of tiis plant aro
ronnd, ,-~son1o aB large as walnut, others much
larger; thoy. grow in damp gronnd,-msn
hanginE together, as II fixed on ropes. They
plant to which Shakespeare alludes in "Tho
Merry Wives OF Windsor" whore fdlsta0 snya,
Let 1t rain poatocs aud hail Kissing comfortsl
was tho Bweet potaso (Datatus elulis), which was
grcat dainty in tlo days Of Elizabeth.
In bis "Horball," published in 1897, ,Gerardc
montions tho potato, and rooommendB tho root
to bo eaton Us delcate dish, and not as ovary-
day food. In tho time OF James l., potatoes
we're furnished for tho Royal table at tho ratio Of
g. per pound. Through the succeeding roign and
scarce, nor woro thcy generally cultivated until
moro thau . century after tl,oir importa-
tion from Virginla. So little wan tic
plant esteemed that London and Wise. do
mt montion It IN tho edition Of thcir
Bradley, an extensive writor upon horticultural
subjects, states, nbout tho Bnrno timo, that "The
potato is OF loss noto than horserndial, rndiBh
scorgcnors, beota, and skirret."
Toward tho close OF the eighteenth century
tho value Of tho potato oame to bo appreciated
In England; and In EBsox County, In 1880. 1,700
acroa wore planted with tile tnbor for tho supply
Of tho London market. In Scotland tho impor-
covered much oarlior. In 1728 the cottagors and
email farmers began to cultivate It genorally:
Tho severity OF tho year Of 1742 stimulated
lis culture, and 1t soon thereafter vas relied
upon as aerviceabls crop. Some Of tho Scotch
: religious grounds: for, Bnid they, "Potatoesare
not mentioned In tho Dibio."
Tie potato came into cultivation In Germany
md Franco about tho samo timo as In Great
ernuaont promoted itH culture by compulsory
regulations.
Tho potato IL closely nlIiod to tho wholesome
eggplant and tomato, aud also to tho nnwhole-
some tobacco. and to the dondly nightshade md
lenbano, md to stromoniun,, md boIladonua
aud tho mandrake (taandragora o6lcinalis) Of
Scripture. Thoso plants are nll ranged to-
gether In the order Solanacyn; and, thougl,
somo Of them are used as food or as an
agreeable stimulant, all possess, in greater
tiles. An extract of tho leavcs Of tho po-
tato ia q powerful narcotic, ranking bctweon
belladonna aud couiam. Honbaue [iiyoseyamus
tifyer) IL q dangerous narcotic at tho time its
at an onrlier period. IN aomo countries It's
leaves arc dried and smoked in lieu Of tobacco.
The deadly qualitioH Of boltadonnn arc we'll
known. Every part Of the plant Ia poisonous.
It is supposed that Shakespeare refers to this
horb in tho line, "Tho insane root TINT takes
tho roason.priBonor e. Macbeth" l, 81. Oil Of
tobacco Is one of the most violent Of known
poisons. The ground berries Of capsioum form
tho pungont oondimont known aa Cayenne pop
per: tbs potato In state of putretaction is
by. An officer on guard ut StrasburR, some years
ago, thought the barracks wero on tiro in conao-
quence Of tue Light emitted by q collar of decay
ing potatoes.
species. which arc scattered over most parts Of
the world, within the Arctic and Antarctic Cit
cles.
TIE ST. oornnp TUNNEL.
The Swiss Government is publishing monthly
reports Of tho progress mado in tho accomplish
ment Of this work. The report for March shows
TINT the boring was advanced 500 foot llneal,-
the proportion on tho Swiss side being creator
than that mado from Airolo by nearly third.
Tho total length gained ance tho frat trinls wore
made, sixteen months ago, is seyeu-eighths Of
mile, Of which nearly 1900 yards are cleared out
to the complete seCtion Of the tunnel, On an
average, 1850 workmon are employed daily, In
outside each Of tho two openings. Tho boring
from the SwHs cnd still continues through solid
gneiss rock. At the southern end, the mica