The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-15
GREAT IRISH sPuDs

1t was first shipped to Spain from
the neighborhood of Quito in the
early part Of the Sixteenth Century;
first to England frum Virginia in
1886. Sir Walter Raleigh first
planted it in Ireland on his estate Of
Youghal. near the city Of Cork. In
1887 it was. first planted in Lanca
shire, England. from Sir Walter
Raleigh's gardens,
Sir Walter Rsleigh's experience
was that he considered. with other
people. that the potato was a fruit
(pomme de terre) apple Of the
Garth" and when the plant grew and
the seed stock shot forth he perceived
the seed balls upon them and con.
ciuLed that they were the delicious
fruit. and upon boiling them found
they were not like what he had had.
and only discovered his mistake when
digging up the ground for other
purposes.
Sir Walter upon expcrimentin;
found that treble the quantity of pc.
tatoes could be raised from. the same
parcel Of ground as Of any other veg
etablc, and Immediately the potato
became the principal food of the
Irish peasantry.
Parmentiere, the great Frencl
man, introduced the potato into
France under great difficulties. He
wanted the French people to adopt
the potato as food, but they would
not even taste it until conniving with
the authorities he succeeded in fool
ing them into using the potato.
He planted garden in potatoes
and made a big ito do" about them
until they were ripe. He then was
allowed a detachment of soldiers to
guard them. The common people got
interested and stole the potatoes
from the garden and Franco became
a potatoeating country.
The German story Of the potato is
not known, but it is great kartoffe
producing and kartoffle eating ma
ton and has given to America the
German potato salad.
Bermuda and the West India Is
lands have been the source of sup
ply for many years, but a new source
has recently developed called the
early Garden OF the United States,
which is the gulf coast country Of
Southern Texas.
The first new potatoes that came
from this locality earlier even than
the Bermudas) sell for $3.50 per
bushcl When they made their first
the whole Northern trade
was surprised. Shortly after the new
potato appears the price drops to
$1.25 bushel by the car load.
Tho only way to test potato 80
you will know too certainty what
it is and what it will do is to cook it
Mashed potatoes and baked potatoes
have been harped on so much in this
country that the stewards have lost
sight of every other kind of potato
For every kind of cooking they
have been picking out white, mealy
variety that will fluff up when mashed
and be white and flaky when baked.
and burst open like popcorn when
boiled. Then they wonder why the
saute potatoes are not good and that
they can't get hashed Drowned out
of the kitchen without being all
mashed up.
For the potatoes which are to be
cooked up light, buy the kind that
will, when cut in two, stick together
They will make fluff-ruffle potatoes.
but when you want potatoes which
when cooked, will hold their shaps
and do things in the manner you want
them to, buy yellow ones that won't
stick together.
Potatoes cooked in dry heat, as
by baking in the oven, roasting in
ashes, frying in deep fat, or steamed
in their jackets, retain all their good
qualities and flavors very much mere
than those cooked in water, but pota-
toes so cooked must be served just
as soon as they are done cooked to
order, or they will become soggy and
bad favored.
have heard the story, but have
mover seen tho act, of putting lit
tie old potatoes" through so1utlon
which is said to loosen the skin so
that when the buyer comes along to
purchase new potatoes he is shown
the old ones, and he naturally tests
the skin to see If it Will scrape easily.
This will do to tell, but can't sac