Potatoes In The 1800s
In 1839, Charles Darwin wrote “It is remarkable that the same plant should be found on the sterile mountains of Central Chile, where a drop of rain does not fall for more than six months, and within the damp forests of the southern islands” (Chapaman). He was speaking of the potato, and its ability to adapt to a variety of climates, from the semiarid to the tropical wet. Potatoes also have high nutritional value. They supply every vitamin and mineral that a body needs except for vitamin A, vitamin D, and calcium (Chapaman). In the past, they have been eaten for the purpose of protecting against diseases such as scurvy, tuberculosis, measles and dysentery (Chapaman). In comparison to grains, another staple food crop, potatoes are more productive.
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Before 1800, the English diet was mainly meat, supplemented by bread, butter and cheese (Chapaman). Parmentier tried to change that, by sending a potato plant as a gift to Queen Elizabeth I (Irish Potato Federation). The Queen held a feast featuring potatoes in every dish. However, the cooks were ignorant of the manner of cooking and serving potatoes, and ended up feeding the guests the poisonous leaves and stems. This made everyone ill, and led to a ban of the potato from the court (Irish Potato Federation). Potatoes did not become a staple of the English diet until the Revolutionary War, when food shortages led the English Government to encourage large scale planting of potatoes. Between 1801 and 1850, England and Wales’ combined population doubled to 18 million (Chapaman).
Ireland
Looking at the qualities of the potato, it is no wonder it became the core of the Irish diet by 1800 (Chapaman). The potato grew well in Irish soil and climate. Its ease of production and high yields allowed even the poorest farmers to produce food for their families without large investment of time of labor. The population doubled between 1780 and 1841 (Chapaman). 40% of the Irish ate no solid foods besides potatoes (Mann). Many Irish survived on diets of potatoes and milk alone (Chapaman).
The Great Potato
Before 1800, the English diet was mainly meat, supplemented by bread, butter and cheese (Chapaman). Parmentier tried to change that, by sending a potato plant as a gift to Queen Elizabeth I (Irish Potato Federation). The Queen held a feast featuring potatoes in every dish. However, the cooks were ignorant of the manner of cooking and serving potatoes, and ended up feeding the guests the poisonous leaves and stems. This made everyone ill, and led to a ban of the potato from the court (Irish Potato Federation). Potatoes did not become a staple of the English diet until the Revolutionary War, when food shortages led the English Government to encourage large scale planting of potatoes. Between 1801 and 1850, England and Wales’ combined population doubled to 18 million (Chapaman).
Ireland
Looking at the qualities of the potato, it is no wonder it became the core of the Irish diet by 1800 (Chapaman). The potato grew well in Irish soil and climate. Its ease of production and high yields allowed even the poorest farmers to produce food for their families without large investment of time of labor. The population doubled between 1780 and 1841 (Chapaman). 40% of the Irish ate no solid foods besides potatoes (Mann). Many Irish survived on diets of potatoes and milk alone (Chapaman).
The Great Potato