WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

June 06, 1878

 

THE HOME OF THE POTATOES.

 

            Mr. Edward Andre has an article in the Illustration Horticole, showing that the original home of our common potato is in South America, in the Andes, near the equator.  He first found it growing wild on the summit of Quindio, near the volcano of Tolima, at a height of 11,400 feet, in latitude 4°34‘ north.  He next found it at 6,200 feet high in the Cauca in 1°33‘ north, in May 1866.  It was growing as a handsome vine, supporting itself on the neighboring trees and bearing magnificent flowers of a deep purple.  M. Andre also found it in North Lima in the Amancoes mountain, where in the midst of a very scanty vegetation the potato is found growing in abundance.  It is equally common in island of San Lorenzo, near Callao.  M. Andre is convinced that Humboldt is entirely mistaken in his opinion that the tuber did not exist either in Chili, New Granada, or Peru.