Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-07
LIE Dues LATEST BOON.
The Improved Irish Potato from the Slopes
OF the AndeS.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati CONNER

IHe improved ITlSN HOtUtO from the SLOPES
OF the Andes.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati CONNER
cial.
Some months ago Gen. Vim. G. lie Due, the
commissioner of agriculture, told by
gentleman who had resided for some time in
Peru that very superior variety of the Irish
potato was produced in the mountainous
regions lying Immediately back Of Lima, some
seventy or eighty miles from the coast. He de-
scribed these potatoes being of medium
size, round, of bright golden color when
cooked, and of delicious flavor, very different
from that of any variety of potato known in
this country. He said he was of the opinion
that they might be cultivated to advantage in
this country. because, although produced in
the tropics, the great elevation at which they
were grown, seventy five hundred to ten thous
sand feet above the level of the sea, made the
climate equal to that of the temperate zones.
The gentleman spoke SO highly of these pota-
toes and expatiated upon their appearance and
flavor in such glowing terms that Gen. LIE Due
became convinced that they were of q; kind
hitherto unknown to American agriculturists,
and if they could be introduced into this coun-
try they would be great and valuable acquisi-
tion. The knowledge also that the potato is
indigenous to Peru and Chill, and that the rest
of the world had been originally supplied from
him to believe that an experiment in this di-
rection would be successful. He accordingly
took steps to secure supply, and with that
object addressed a communication to the
United States consul at Callao requesting that
functionary to procure a sufficient quantity
and forward them to him at Washington by ex-
! press. The consul promptly complied with
his request, and few days ago Gen. LIE Duo
| had the satisfaction of receiving two crates of
the potatoes in tolerably fair condition, and
! obtained from them about two and a half
bushels ofsound seed potatoes, fairly bristling
with eyes, and enough to furnish seed for full
and fair experiments to he made. He has al
ready given out a few for planting in Califor-
| MIA. The remainder will be carefully pre-
served until next spring, when they will be dis
tributed among careful and Competent farmers
| in different States
| If it should be found that this variety of the
potato can be successfully grown in this coun-
try Gen. LIE Duo will have accomplished a great
and important thing, the potatoes we have
now, although some of them are very large, are
all more or less effected by some disease or other
and are very liable to rot
| In order to be sure that the potatoes received
were the same which the gentleman had spoken
of, Gen. LIE Due invited him to go to the de-
partment and inspect them. He did So and
after selecting three of the best, had them
boiled in the laboratory. When broken open
they were found TO be of the kind he described.
| Luey were VI u Oeep yellOW Color ana delicious
flavor, entirely different from that of any po-
tato ever seen by any Of the gentlemen present,
and all agreed that if they could be grown in
this country it would undoubtedly be a great
public benefit
The reason why it was necessary to make a
selection in order to make a trial was that,
owing to the route over which the potatoes had
been brought here, they were exposed to great
heat, and were consequently somewhat with
cred. They were carried from the place where
they were grown in the mountains of Peru, tc
Lima. on pack mules, and sent from that city
to Callao by rail. There they were shipped t.
Panama by steamer, and thence to Aspinwal
by rail. Then they were again put on board
steamship for transportation to New York, ant
from there, again by railroad, they were sen
to this city. 1t is not at all surprising, there
fore, that after passing through so man,
2 changes of temperature, and through fifty
! three degrees of latitude, and shut up for day
, at time in the holds of vessels in the tori,
> zone, that the potatoes should become deter
lorated. For planting, however, they are il
capital order, and there is every reason to be
J lieve that the attempt to introduce them int
this country will be successful.