Tobacco and the Potato.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4124, 22 September 1883, Page 8 (Supplement)

Tobacco and the Potato.

The richly-perfumed yellow wall flowers that he brought to Ireland from the Azores, and the Aflano cheoiy, .arc still found where hefirstplanted thembythoßlackwater. Some cotlars ho brought to Cork are to this day growing, according to tho local historian, Air John (Jeorge MacCmthy, at a place called Tivoli. Tho four venerable yewtrees, whose branches have grown and intermingled into a sort of summer-house thatch, iu-e pointed out as having sheltered Raleigh when lie first smoked tobacco in his Youghal garden. In that garden he also planted tobacco. The climate of the south of Ireland favoured its cultivation. Many years after his time the name of Ivaleiyh was favourably mentioned in College Green, when tho Irish House of Commons contemplated encouraging tobacco plantations in Ireland. Tho supposed necessity, however, of protecting tobacco planters in the colonies, and supporting tho customs revenue of England, compelled tho Lord-Lientemmt to veto any revival of Baleigli's scheme. A few steps further on, where- the town wall of the thirteenth century bounds the garden of the Warden's house, is the famous spot where the first Irish potato was planted by him. In that garden lie gave the tubers to the ancestor of tho present Lord Southveil, by whom they were spread throughout tho province of Minister. Sn an old book of travels in the northern counties, quoted in the "Gentleman's Magazine" •eighty years ago, it is said:—" Potatoes were first planted here (in Lancashire), having been brought from Ireland to England by the immortal Raleigh." Writing from Cork in August, 1(502, Carew says to Sir Robert Cecil, "I sent unto Sir W. R many sorts of ore. I would be glad to know how they prove, and that speedily " Before this, Raleigh had brought some Cornish miners to Ireland, and had spent a considerable sum in trying to develop the mineral resources of tho country. How different would the popular traditions respecting Raleigh in Ireland be if his taste in such things and his literary genius had been associated with a wiser and more truly English policy than that of repression !— "Sir Walter Raleigh in Ireland. By Sir John Pope Hennessy."