Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-11-12

The potato, says the Troy Times is
more important as variety of human
food than any other root we cultivate
and is remarkable for being grown
over greater range of latitude than
any other cultivated plant.
The potato was scarcely known
until the seventeenth century, and
was not extensively cultivated before
the middle of the eighteenth. The
potato plant is a native of South
America, and its native soil is Chill,
where it IS called maglia, and Hum
boldt affirms that it was unknown in
Mexico until after the Spanish con-
quest.
1t has been stated, and is believed
by many, that the first potatoes grown
in Europe. were planted in Walter
Raleigh's garden in Ireland, but this
is erroneous. In Offenburgh, near
Baden III South Germany, there is
monument to Sir Francis Drake, as
"The first introducer of the potato in
Europe BY the way, it may be
mentioned that Frederick the Great
had to compel his subjects to plant it
before he could get it into much use,
and the use of this invaluable plant
was vehcmently opposed in France.
AT last Louis XIV. wore u bunch of
its flowers in the midst of his court
iers, and the consumption Of the root
became universal.
In point Of fact, the potato entered
Europe by two different routes. 1t
was carried from Peru to Spain, and
thence into Italy and Germany, where
laws were passed to enforce its cult
walton. 1t is probable that when
Raleigh came from his American
voyage of 1899 he brought tobacco
and the potato with him
Drake visited Virginia few years
later, and brought over the sweet po-
tato, which abounded in Virginia and
North Carolina, and was used in
England as delicacy long before the
potato which we ordinarily have was
known.
Sir Francis Drake returned from
navigating the globe, in which he
visited Chill, in 1870, full seven years
before Raleigh landed on the Atlantic
coast, and it Is quite certain that he
brought over the potato.
A legend in regard to the origin of
roasted potatoes runs that Raleigh
planted some Of the tubers in his
garden i'll Ireland, Just as he had
seen it done in Virginia, and had to
return to England before the plant
had reached maturity. His Irish re-
tainers, left in charge of his house
and garden, noticed the seed-apples
which it due season the plant produc-
ed, tasted them, and pronounced them
unfit for use by man or beast. At
that time the process Of "burning the
gratis" or weeds, was practiced in
Ireland. 1t was used by Raleigh's
servants to clear his garden of the
withered stalks of the potato plants.
In this burning, the ground became
heated, and the gardener, turning up
the earth up with his spade, found
the tubers cooked and pleasant to the
taste, Roasted potatoes got wind,
and most every person in Ireland
planted potatoes.
The manufacture of sugar from po-
tatoes is carried on to great extent
in some parts of England, and it is
stated by practical men that three
tons Of the raw materi9l will produce
one ton Of the manufactured article.
In March, 1851, the Legislature of
Massachusetts offered q premium Of
$4,000 to any person within the
Commonwealth who should satisfy
the Governor and his Council that by
a test Of five years he had discovered
a sure and practical remedy for the
potato rot. Thereupon multitude
of letters poured into the public office
many of them containing valuable
hints, facts or reasoning; and the
Council ordered the Secretary, Mr..
Walker, to prepare digest Of the
information placed at It's disposal by
the several correspondents. The
conclusions to which all the facts of
the case, as they are here gathered,
have appeared to lead are these:
THAT the disease bears strik-
ing resemblance to cholera, and prob
ably exists in the atmosphere.
2.-That it is doubtful if any specific
cure has been, or will ever be, discov-
cred.
3.-But, as in cholera, certain pre-
vcntives are we'll ascertained, by the
applications of which the liabilities
to disease may be greatly lessened.
4.-That by obtaining the soundest
seed, by planting in the most favora-
bic soils, and by using the most suit
able manures, we may have good
degree of confidence in the success
full cultivation of this useful vegeta
bic.
5.-That we may expect that, like
the cholera, the potato-rot will become
less and less formidable every year,
and eventually subside into mild
and manageable epidemic.