Jasper Republican, Volume 1, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1875 — The History of the Potato. [ARTICLE]

The History of the Potato.

The first discovery of the potato by Europe ans seems to have been made daring the first voyage of Columbus. While visiting the island of Cuba apme of his. men went some sixty miles into the interior of the island and obtained a peculiar root and maize, or Indian corn. This root seems to have been the potato. This was in the year 1492. It was afterward found growing wild in Andean forests, from New Granada on the north to Buenos Ayres on the south. It has also been cultivated by the old Aztic races from time immemorial. At Cuzco, in Peru, Quito, in Equador, and perhaps as far north as Mexico it formed an important article of diet for the aboriginal inhabitants of the American continent. At just what time it was first introduced into Europe we are not informed, but it must have been early 1 in the sixteenth century. Certain it is that it was, cultivated in Spain in 1550, whence it soon spread to Italy, Burgundy and the Netherlands. In 1565 it was carried from Spain to Ireland by Capt. Hawkins, a slave-trader. It was introduced into England by Sir Francis Drake in 1585, but did not attract any special notice until it was a third time introduced, this time by Sir W. Raleigh, who brought it from Virginia, in America. Authorities differ as to the exact time when this took place, but it is probable that it was about the year 1586, though some put it as late as 1623. It was taken to Germany about 1710, and to France near the same time. It found its way to Scotland about 1728. In view of its present popularity it appears strange that it should have been so long in working itself into public favor. It was at first cultivated in the gardens as an ornamental plant. The idea that it possessed poisonous qualities was very common and no doubt hindered its becoming popular as an article of diet for many years. Even yet we often see it asserted that some of the wild varieties are quite poisonous, but I am unable to trace these assertions to any reliable source. It is true the plant contains a smell proportion of a poisonous substance nearly allied to if not identical with nicotine, the oil of tobacco; but it is in very small proportion, and does not in any case, I believe, affect the tuber, which is the part used for food. Raleigh first took it to England, and had the tubers planted in his

- ■ - - worthless weed. Raleigh thereupon ordered Ifim thom and throw them aw»y, but to doing to he fodnd a lot of well-grown tubers. very wealthy, being regarded as a delicacy too rare and costly to be used by the common people. The table of James L was supplied at two shillings per pound. The use of the potato was strange ly opposed in Scotland on religious grounds. It is not mentioned in the Bible, therefore, argued thetoeonscientious old Puritans, it ought not to be used as an article of diet. *

Many methods were employed by those who had learned the value of the potato as an article of food to introduce it to the favorable notice of the general public, but it took many years tor ft’to become in any degree popular. Their mer its as well as the best methods of raising and cooking were published and circulated. One Parmentier, a Frenchman, on returning from Germany, where he had seen the potato growing, set himself to the work tb secure that appreciation of it among his its merits demanded. He wrote and spoke in its favor, calling the attention of both rich and poor to its value as an article of fpod. '. * a/” I u

In order to attract attention ta it he planted a field of it and set ajguard as if to protect it from the thieving' propensities of the peasantry, at the same time allowing word to go out that it was an article of very great value for the table. After a time the vigilance of the guard was purposely relaxed, thus giving all who desired to an opportunity to clandestinely carry off some of the valuable esculent. The peasantry were not slow to avail themselves of this chance to give the new root a trial. The result was its popularity was established. But notwithstanding the efforts of occasional intelligent men to secure a general recognition of Its merits by the people the potato was very slow in working its way into popular favor. The Government of Germany used coercive measures to promote its cultivation in that country.

It was not till far in the eighteenth century that it was generally used for food. A severe season in 1742 drew general attention to it as a reliable food crop, after which it gained rapidly in popularity till it became the main dependence for food for the poorer classes in some of the countries of Europe—especially in Ireland. It yielded large and sure crops, and as the climate seemed well adapted, to Jits growth it soon became their chief dependence for food. In 1842 a disease generally known as the “ rot” appeared in the potato fields of Germany, near Liege. Two yearn after it ravaged the fields of Canada, and in 1845 it was very destructive over nearly all parts of Europe. *f he season seemed to favor its development, and it carried destruction wherever it appeared. The loss during that one year to Great Britain and Ireland was estimated at 1110,000,000. The distress caused by the loss of the potato crop, especially to the poor, was exceedingly severe. Ireland, experienced a famine that caused wide-spread suffering and death from starvation. Since that time the rot has lurked in the potato fields of both the Old and New Worlds, and when the seasons have favored it has still been ready to develop its destructive power. —L. J. Templin, in Indiana Farmer.