Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-27

fruit from America, the man took to his
master one of the apples and asked if
that were the fine fruit. Sir Walter ex-
mined it, and feigning to be dissatisfied
with it, ordered the ''weed' to be rooted
out. In doing this the gardener found a
bushel of potatoes.
From the authority of more than one
writer, it appears that the potato was
brought into southern Europe through a
different channel, and at an earlies per-
ion than the introduction of the root in
to England from Tirginia. Peter Cicea,
in his Chronicle, printed in 1868, relates
that the inhabitants of Quito and its vic
unity cultivated tuberous root which
was used for food. This was transplant
ed in the south of Europe.
Many writer's agree that the plant is in
digenous to Chilli, South America, and
that the wild specimens found there have
not been accidentally propagated from
any cultivated variety as in that country
it is found only in steep, rocky places,
where it could never have been cultivated,
and where its incidental introduction is
impossible. In the wild plant the flowers
are always pure white, free from the pur-
pie tint so common to the cultivated va
rieties.
For a great length of time this root
was not perfectly appreciated as an ar
ticle of food in England, but was only
cultivated in gardens as a curious exotic.
1t was considered a great delicacy in the
reign of James the First, and though it
formed one of the articles provided for
the household of the queen, it was very
dear, being at the price of two shillings
per pound. It remained very scarce for
more than hundred years after its in
PRODUCTION by Raleigh. In 1868 Mr..
auckland of SOmersetshire drew the at
tention of the Royal Society to its value,
earnestly recommending the general cul-
tivation of the potato throughout the
kingdom to guard against famine. This
appeal was not made in vain.
In the first gardeners calendar pub
lished in Britain a writer says: "Plant
your potatoes in your worst ground. Take
them up in November for winter spend
ing, there will enough remain for a stock
though ever so exactly gathered" The
necessities of the poor in Ireland, who
have always been left pretty much to their
own resources, did more to promote the
culture of the potato than all the labors
of the learned and the philanthropy of
the patriotic.
At the end of the 18th century, writer
on gardening says that potatoes are much
used as bread in Ireland and America,
and may be propegated with advantage to
poor people"
In the "Complete Gardener" by the
eminent nurserymen, London and Wise,
the seventh edition Of which was published
in 1719, no mention is made of this root;
and Bradley, who wrote about the same
time, and whose very extensive works on
horticultural subjects treated express
sively on new improvements, no
tees as if by compulsion. ''They (po-
| tatoes) are" says he, 'Of less note than
| beets, hOrse-radish and skirret; but as
| they are not without their admirers, will
not pass them by in silence" These cur
| iOus facts and extracts show that it was
| brought into use in defiance of the preiu-
| dices of leaned men and the bad methods
of culture which they promulgated. The
early sowing the late taking up the leav-
| ing in the ground during the winter, the
roots intended for propagation, tended to
deteriorate their quality. About the year
1870 person who had been invited to
taste the first potatoes which were planted
in the County of Forfar, said that the root
had been merely heated, and adhered to
the teeth like glue, while it's flavor was
| far from agreeable. 1t was about to be
condemned through the ignorance of the
cook, when tho accidental arrival of a
gentleman who had tasted a potato in
Lancashire caused the rejected roots to
! be remanded back to the hot turf ashes,
till they became as dainty as they had be-
! fore been nauseOuS.
| 1t was not till the latter part Of the
eighteenth century that the potato began
to form an important part of English hus-
bandry.