POTATO: CULTIVATION, PRODUCTION AND TRADE. After much investigation it seems to be accepted that the original habitat of the wild potato is either Peru or Chile, where it grows wild on the cool plateaux high up on the Andes. Here it has grown for centuries and supplied the stocks which have been distributed to most countries of the world. Unfortu nately, the exact history of its introduction to other countries has been lost and the few historical stories that remain prove to have very little solid foundation when investigated by modern workers. Sir Walter Raleigh, for instance, in 1585, is said to have brought back the potato from Virginia, yet on investigation it appears that the true potato did not reach Virginia until over a hundred years after this date. Nor could Raleigh have ob tained the potato from Peru, for his ships apparently never visited that country. Sir John Hawkins is also credited with having introduced the potato in 1565. Investigation shows that the potatoes carried by Hawkins were the "sweet potato," Ipo moea batatas, and not the ordinary potato, Solanum tuberosum, as we know it. Claims are also made for Drake in this connection. Certainly his ships passed through the straits of Magellan in 1578 and turned northwards, looting the coast towns of Chile and Peru, after which he returned to England across the Pacific and Indian oceans, thereby completing his second renowned trip round the world. There is however no record that potatoes were brought on his ship the "Pelican," and indeed it was not until 1586 that he is alleged to have introduced the potato. The Ger mans are exponents of the Drake story, for there stands in Offen burg, Baden, a monument inscribed : "Sir Francis Drake, intro ducer of the Potato into Europe in the year of our Lord 1580." It is probable, however, that it was the Spaniards who gave the potato to Europe. However that may be, after cultivation and improvement in Europe, stocks spread to North America and Australia, for these new countries seem to have got potatoes via Europe and not direct from South America.
Perhaps the first most important introduction was the variety "Victoria" raised and introduced by William Paterson of Dundee. Victoria was a great and successful cropper and proved the parent of many other great potatoes that have come since, including Champion, Up-to-Date, Great Scott and Ninetyfold. Working simultaneously, the Rev. Goodrich of New York introduced in 1857 the Garnet Chili, a variety which became famous through out America, where it is still cultivated. The Garnet Chili was the parent of Early Rose, an early variety famous throughout America and Europe. Early Rose in turn gave Burbank and Early Ohio, both largely cultivated in America, and Magnum Bonum, a very popular potato of England and North European countries. Actually the Magnum Bonum was bred from Early Rose by J. Clark of Christchurch. Clark also grew Abundance, Epicure and Ninetyfold, varieties still of great importance.
The second wave of potato blight came in 1870 and caused much destruction amongst the existing varieties. This had some effect and breeders concentrated on securing more resistant forms. Nicol of Arbroath then introduced the Champion, a great crop ping resistant variety which soon became largely grown through out Scotland and Ireland and in time in most potato districts of the world. It is, however, to Archibald Findlay of Scotland that the greatest credit must be given, for he was successful in giving to the world many successful varieties, of which the Up to-Date and British Queen are still widely grown. The Up-to Date especially made both Scotland and Ireland famous for potatoes, from whence this variety was exported to all parts of the world. In more recent times, 1907-1928, Donald McKelvie has been the chief potato-breeder, and his introductions of Arran Chief, Arran Comrade, Arran Consul and Arran Banner are now fast establishing themselves in all countries. German breed ers raised Richter's Imperator, the President and Paulsen's Juli, all of such great merit as to justify wide cultivation. Potato breeders in America did good work. Mention has already been made of Goodrich's Garnet Chili and of the Early Rose by Albert Breese. There were many others. C. G. Pringle, by care ful efforts in crossing, bred Alpha, Adirondack, Ruby and Snow flake, all of which gradually spread over America and Europe; Luther Burbank produced the Burbank. E. L. Coy of New York originated many sorts, of which the Early Puritan and White Elephant soon gained a great reputation. E. S. Carman produced Rural New Yorker No. 2 and Carman No. 3.