FACTS ABOUT POTATOES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9144, 28 August 1888, Page 3

FACTS ABOUT POTATOES.

According to the calculations of Mulhall, who has tabulated the potato culture of Europe and of the States, Ireland stands at the head of the list as to the produce compared with the population, the annual crops averaging at the rate of 13201b per inhabitant ; Germany follows with a capitation allowance of 10601b; Holland and Belgium dropping down to 5801b; France coming next with 5501b; Scotland's share per inhabitant being 3901b, and only 1201b ; while in Italy and Spain, so little are the tubers appreciated, that there is only raised in weight about half a cwfc to each inhabitant. Mulhall did not include New Zealand in his reckoning ; but as last season's crop was about 138,000 tons, divided among 600,000 people, it would average better than 5001b to each ; so that, compared with Ireland, we are a long way behind as growers and consumers of potatoes, nob even indeed coming up to France. Mr. Mulhall puts down the total value of the potato crop of the United Kingdom at £16,200,000. That of Europe amounts to the large sum of £160,600,000; while the aggregate crops of Europe, the United States, and Canada reach the total amount of £180,000,000, a surprising sum truly, showing the vast importance of these tubers in the food supplier of the nations. A certain author might well write in regard to the potato as follows : —" There is nothing in nature that more forcibly illustrates the truth of the adage, necessity is the mother of invention, than the way in which: man has regenerated and improved a large portion of the vegetable kingdom, and made it subservient to his wants. And no where in the vegetable kingdom have man's labours been rewarded with such momentous results to the world at large, as the improvement wrought in the potato, the Creator placing the wild plant in his hands, and leaving to his philosophical mind and energy its future development." This is what Mr. Pink says, adding : " And right well has this been achieved ; for who would recognise the splendid tubers now seen as being the progeny of a wild and apparently useless herb, whose fruit and foliage possess strong narcotic properties, and whose tubers are small, bitter, and almost impalatable? And we are told by American travellers that in its wild state, its tuber-forming properties are so small that an acre produces scarcely sufficient to sustain a score of people for one day."