The Potato Book

This book, first published during the First World War, is a celebration of the potato, covering its origins in South America, its journey with Sir Francis Drake, the Irish potato famine, and the 1903 potato boom. It offers practical advice on growing potatoes as a cheap and effective crop, with chapters on soil preparation, propagating, planting, earthing-up, and recommended varieties. It also includes diagrams to help guard against common pests and diseases.

Format: Hardback
Length: 104 pages
Publication date: 07 March 2024
Publisher: Bodleian Library

This delightful little book, originally published towards the close of the First World War, serves as a heartfelt ode to the potato, tracing its origins from South America to Sir Francis Drake's voyages, the Irish potato famine, and the remarkable potato boom of 1903. Packed with invaluable practical advice that remains relevant even today, The Potato Book was penned with the purpose of promoting potato cultivation as a cost-effective and efficient crop in the face of escalating expenses and food scarcity. The chapters delve into various aspects of potato cultivation, including soil preparation, propagation methods, chitting, planting, earthing-up, and recommended varieties ranging from King Edward to Kerr's Pink. Additionally, the book provides detailed illustrations and explanations on how to safeguard against common pests and diseases. Presented with a witty and delightful introduction by Kathy Clugston, this book makes an ideal gift for vegetable growers, allotment enthusiasts, and anyone with a deep affection for the humble spud.

Weight: 178g
Dimension: 172 x 118 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781851246236