The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-11-27
TIE II
Its History Proves Its Native American Orr
gin-A Boon to all Men,

HlN-N huuh ' " AApHe
Chicago IRlr 0cem.
The potato ia Of honored lineage and
reputable descent. This esCulent, farm.
cceoua tuber has a name and a fame that
have zone around the world, Wherever
Il Is known, and 1t ia known everywhere,
II Ia recognized az the best Of food for both
rich and poor, and Is welcomed alike to
thA table Of the prince and peasant.
The turkey is q fowl Of undoubted
American nativity, and yet it was popu-
larry, though Improperly, chris'ened after
the land Of the Ottoman because Of the
fslacious fancy that 1t found lts 6rst home
and sutCBfsfnl introduction In polite 60
cieiy in the sultan's donations, Ia some.
thing OF the same way tho potato sane to
have the country Of It's birth located in the
Trong hemiauhers. II has been generally
credited to ireland, and to this day even
well informed persons make the distlnc-
ton bet ween the sweet and the "1rish po-
tato." The fact is, both fowl and plant are
true. born native Americans and never &C.
9uired naturally ,tion here,
Few OF the long'cultiv4ted plants, es-
peCially OF the kitchen garden, have al
origipHsud q hist ry rs clta ar aIihs potato.
The Spsniards in thelr. couQuest OF Cen.
trail and South America, composed Of
campaigns marked by their greed Of gold
and cruelty almost without u parallel,
we're the meAns Of introducing into Id
rcpa q knowledge Of the then almost uR-
known American continent, and OF taking
back 0Clos the main many plants, animals
and articles that wRyO wholly new to the
den'zsns Of tho elder hemisphere. These
roveB found the potato In the neighbour
hood CT @ tito, End discovered that 1t had
long been raised by tho supplemented
nsiivea, who had received 1t and the
method Of it's cultivation from their
fathers. The Spanish armies we're accom-
panied by the disciples OF the Orosp, and
o1o oil them PANIED Cardsn Ia reputed to
have been the first to introduce tie potato
into Spain.
II 10, however, Tho English history Of
the potato to which attention ls hare d.
rected. A high authority ascribPs the in.
PRODUCTION OF the popular tuber into Eng-
land TO John Hawkins, about 1868 This
Hawkins IL identified with tho navigator
who laid the foundations for the slave
trade In which 30 many lordly families In
EuglSnd grew rich and powerful until the
moral sense Of the English people became
so aroused through the agitation Of Will
beriofCe and his co%.workeTs that the gov
ernmert ives compelled to put q stop 10
the traffic. Other authors identify the
plant which Hawkins aud Drake took to
The kingdom OF the Virgin Queen, Eliza.
beth, with the sweet potato. In 1886 po-
Lato luberR we're carried from North Osro.
lima and Virginia IN Ireland. These speCi-
mems were taken by returning Colonists
who had been sent out TO America by
Sir Walter Raleigh. There can be no
doubt that that noblemSn was the iltRt to
have The potato cultivated there, and his
estate near Cork Is noted as the place
where this wss done. Thus IL was that
Raleigh's name became inscparRhly con.
nectel with the potato. The beginning OF
the popular favor accorded this now
article Of food ia directly traCeabls 10 him.
AS early as 1857 the potato had assumed
such Importance that 1t was mot unire.
quently mentioned by the writer's Of that
period,
Since that period the potato has boen
plhnLeu anu pOpulaElleu IN every ClVlllHeu
country. Three centuries Of culture have
worked wonders, but Of the multitude OF
varieties that have been produced all have
the characteristics Of the original taken
from Carolina soil. With the years. 1t
has continued to grow In favor, and Ia In
more general use now than ever before.
With such q record, 1t Ia interesting TO
note that England Ia o o To add to the
multitude Of celebrations "a potato ter.
centenary" As It Is three hundred years
since Il was introduced into tho
United Kingdom, II ls proposed carly in
December to properly observe the ami.
yeisRry. II 10 the purpose to hold an ex.
position in London Of all things relating
to the potato. Those who have the cello
bratlon in charge are busily engaged In
collecting all the literature on the subject
that Ia o%6tRinable, all the RrLiClesthRt have
been published relating 10 its culture, etc,
ard oil the specimens that can DO pro.
cured. II certainly will be an interesting
event and one which may be made OF
much interest and great practical value 10