POTATO.
Yang-sbu, Tu-yu, . CHIN. BARU, . . PORT.
Ho-lan-shu, . . . „ Kartofel, . . . . Rus.
Aardappel, . . . HUT. Patata, . . . . „ Pomme-de•terre, . . FR. Ruta innala, . . SINGH.
Kartoffel, • . . GER. Patatas manchegas, Sr.
Puttata, Alu, . . HIND. Patata, Pomi-di-terra, Patata, IT. Potates, Jordparon, Sw. Ubi, Kantang, . MALAY. Wallarai kelangu, . TA3s. Seh-zamini, Alu, . PERS. Ooralay gadda, . . TEL.
The potato plant, since the early part of the 17th century, has been introduced into Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Sir John Malcolm claims to have introduced it into Persia about the early part of the 19th century. It has been grown by the Burmese since 1862. Potatoes were sent to Kabul by Captain Claude Martin Wade from Ludhiana, and planted by the Amir. Baron Hugel introduced them into Kashmir, and sent them thence into Little Tibet. In British India, the planting has been extending since the early part of the 19th century, but the root is still (1882) only used by Europeans. The Dutch and the Roman Catholic priests introduced it into China, where, also, Europeans are the chief consumers. It is now largely grown in Mysore, and in various parts of the Dekhan, by planting the tubers.
The potato plant belongs to the natural order Solanacem, and is closely related to the tobacco plant, belladonna, henbane, nightshade, and other .poisonous narcotics. In it, however, the poisonous qualities are confined to the parts above ground, including any of the tubers exposed to the light in growing. It is a native of South America, and is still found wild in the mountainous regions of Chili, Peru, and Buenos Ayres, and has also been found in Mexico and in the Southern States of N. America, but was probably introduced there by the first Spanish settlers. Samples brought from the Carolinas were first grown by Sir Walter Raleigh in the south of Ireland in 1586. In that country, where both soil and climate are favour able to its growth, it rapidly came into favour ; but in England, Scotland, and France, a prejudice long existed against it, owing to the poisonous nature of the other plants of the same order, and for a century and a half it was only cultivated in flower gardens. Even in 1725, the few potato plants in the gardens about Edinburgh were left in the same spot from year to year. In 1728, however, Thomas Prentice, a Scotch day-labourer in Stirlingshire, began to cultivate the plant for food, and sold to his neighbours what he did not require for his own use. They bought willingly, and he soon made a small fortune, and lived for sixty-four years a happy witness to the effects of the blessing which he had been instrumental in conferring upon the country. In England, the potato was taken into favour much earlier, and its field culture rapidly extended as its excellent qualities became known. In France it was not until a time of scarcity during the revolution that its culture became general.
In British India, potatoes should be planted in rows about 1 foot apart, and 5 or 6 inches deep ; the space between each row not less than a foot. The ground should be light and loamy, and as little infested with white ants as possible. They can be planted at the commencement of the rains in a spot where the water cannot lodge, which may be done by keeping the end of the channel between the ridges open. At this season, plant on the top of the ridges, and do not water them unless necessary, as too much water makes them run to stalk. If the ground have not been well ploughed previous to the rains setting in, and all the weeds destroyed, the chance is the crop will fail ; but should the ground be ready, cut the potatoes intended for the seed into pieces, taking care that each slice has at least two eyes in it ; as you cut the slices, whilst fresh, dip the cut side of each into wood-ashes, and let them dry well, which takes place in a few hours ; this prevents the white ant's attacks. Plant each slice from 9
to 12 inches apart, and place by the side of each a small clove of garlic, which in some measure tends to prevent the attack of a large grub very destructive to the plant. Dr. Riddell thinks this insect's eggs must be in the manure when added to the soil, and be had little doubt but that if the manure was previously worked up with the soil two or three times during the hot season, and exposed to the heat of the sun, the eggs would be destroyed ; or the same purpose might be effected with a little fresh lime. Ile is sure the caterpillar does not travel to the plant. The finest crops in the Dekban are sown from the beginning of October to the latter end of Decem ber, and this last crop will be found the most productive. Fine crops of potatoes have been grown where hemp has been first sown, and when about 2 feet high ploughed up into the ground. lf, when the potatoes are about flowering, any of the stalks wither, carefully open the earth and look for and destroy the grub, which you may be certain is feeding upon it. When these grubs are very numerous, it is necessary to search all the drooping plants daily. A bag with a small quantity of asafoetida can be placed in the water course as a remedy when the plants are being irrigated. Another insect deposits its egg on the stalk of the plant. In the rains a small cater pillar eats its way into the stalk above the ground, on which the plant immediately droops ; the remedy is to remove the whole. At all seasons keep the stalks well earthed up, and let the potatoes have a moderate supply of water, the season being the guide. One year, Dr. Riddell raised a very fine crop of potatoes during the rains, by sowing them on ridges, and only watered them at first in consequence of want of rain ; they were sown in the beginning of July, and a few taken up in the latter end of September. Some of the pota toes weighed from five to seven ounces, and were equal to any seen grown on the hills. In the latter end of August, he tore off shoots from the lower end of the stalks when they were abundant, and planted them in rows, the same distance as for seed; and in November four or five large potatoes were found produced by each stalk, the size of a duck's egg. This plan he strongly recom mends when not able to get fresh seed after the rains.
Potato - Starch, or potato - arrowroot, also called potato-flour, forms a white and somewhat glistening powder, which crackles like genuine Marauta arrowroot when pressed between the fingers. It is sometimes called British or English arrowroot, and is prepared by rasping and grind ing the well-cleaned tubers of Solanum tuberosum into a pulp.
Sweet Potato (Batatas edulis): is cultivated largely in tropical countries for its root, which contains much farinaceous and saccharine matter. The tubers are usually about the size of potatoes, but several have been seen from Grand Canary weigh ing 6 to 7} lbs. each ; and one in Madeira is said to have weighed 32 lbs. after having been left in the ground two or three years. Although not known to have been collected in the wild state, it is believed by M. A. de Canclolle to be of American origin.
'l'elinga Potato, Amorphophallus clunpanulatus, Karna Kalangu of the Tamils, esteemed a very wholesome food. The dark-coloured flowers have a very curious appearance. — Rid. ; Canadian Naturalist; Viqne's Personal Narrative, pp. 173, 174 ; Lowe's Madeira Flora.