. The encyclopedia of practical horticulture; a reference system of commercial horticulture, covering the practical and scientific phases of horticulture, with special reference to fruits and vegetables;. Gardening; Fruit-culture; Vegetable gardening. 1702 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE what part and when it was first intro- duced into Europe, and by whom, is diffi- cult to settle among several conflicting claims. It is conceded that the plant grew wild in the Andes mountains, from Chili to Columbia and as far north as New Mexico. Also, Sir Walter Raleigh introduced it into Ireland fro
. The encyclopedia of practical horticulture; a reference system of commercial horticulture, covering the practical and scientific phases of horticulture, with special reference to fruits and vegetables;. Gardening; Fruit-culture; Vegetable gardening. 1702 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE what part and when it was first intro- duced into Europe, and by whom, is diffi- cult to settle among several conflicting claims. It is conceded that the plant grew wild in the Andes mountains, from Chili to Columbia and as far north as New Mexico. Also, Sir Walter Raleigh introduced it into Ireland from North Carolina in 1585-6. In 1563 John Hawkins introduced it into England from Santa Pe, New Mex- ico. In 1553 it is said that Hieronymus Cardan, a monk, introduced it from Peru into Spain. For practical purposes it is of little consequence to us now who first introduced it into Europe, although vol- umes have been written upon this sub- ject. The potato is here and is now one of the staple articles of food for a large part of the civilized world. Peculiarity of Growtli The potato owes its value to the pecu- liar habit of developing underground leafless shoots or branches which differ in character and office from true roots, and gradually the swelling at the free end produces the tubers (potatoes), which are the common vegetable food. The nature of these tubers is further rendered evident by the presence of "eyes," which are really leaf buds, in pe- culiar forms, and which in due time lengthen into shoots and form the stem called the "top.'* The cause of the formation of tubers is a subject that has been much discussed and is not definitely settled. Professor Bernard claims that it is caused by the presence of a fungus, Fusarium solani, which, growing in the underground shoots, irritates them and causes the swelling. The result is that an efficient method of propagation is se- cured, independently of the seed, which grows on the top of the vine. Starch and othe
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, booksubjectfruitculture, booksubjectgardening
