Dated August 9, 2016 AD
My fascination with the Rohan potato began when I encountered an intriguing account in my 1840 edition of Thomas’s Farmer’s Almanac.
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The Rohan Potato, a recent arrival from France, boasts an exceptional characteristic: remarkable productivity. This attribute is highly valuable for farmers who primarily cultivate potatoes for livestock feed. However, its quality for human consumption isn’t as celebrated. While acknowledged for its firm texture, it’s generally considered a second or third-rate table potato among northern varieties. Personally, I haven’t had the opportunity to cultivate or sample them, so I can’t vouch for their specific traits or taste. However, if the reports from the Hampshire fair in October 1838 are accurate, they surpass all other known potato varieties in yield. It’s stated that Mr. E. Mitchell, using a mere 4 pounds of seed potatoes, harvested a staggering 18 bushels, totaling 1,173 1/2 pounds. While this incredible output likely benefited from fertile soil, the near three-hundredfold increase remains astounding.
Being of French origin, the Rohan Potato necessitates early planting, ideally by the first of May. This early start allows them ample time to mature. This particular variety, unlike any other, seems poised to greatly benefit farmers focused on cultivating potatoes for livestock. I encourage my fellow farmers to give them a fair trial, as I intend to do in the upcoming year. —Ed.
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The excerpt from the almanac appears exactly as follows:
The claim that a mere 4 pounds of seed yielded over three-quarters of a ton of potatoes seemed almost too good to be true, leading me to believe the almanac editor was being tricked.
A Google search on the Rohan story provided further insights, including this excerpt from the 1839 edition of The Magazine of Horticulture, Botany, And All Useful Discoveries And Improvements in Rural Affairs.
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Some Observations on the Rohan Potato. By William Kenrick.
Named after Prince Rohan, the Rohan potato, believed to have originated in Switzerland, is touted as the world’s most productive. This variety produces large tubers, and while not exceptional, the quality is good. This aligns with Judge Buel’s description, which I’ve included below. Given their vigorous growth mirroring the potato yield, ample spacing between hills is crucial to prevent total sunlight blockage from the soil. Early, deep, and fine ploughing is recommended for optimal growth in our climate. Planting should also occur early, as soon as the ground is sufficiently warm, with only two eyes needed per hill.
I personally imported the seed for these potatoes directly from France in late spring of 1837, as the initial shipment was lost during transit. This delay necessitated a late planting; however, the harvest was still plentiful. My brother, utilizing single eyes from the same batch planted late in the season, harvested five pecks. This year, while other varieties yielded a third of their usual harvest, the Rohan potatoes provided a bountiful yield.
There are numerous accounts attesting to this potato’s remarkable productivity. Mr. Harger reportedly produced 144 pounds from a mere 13 ounces of seed. It is said that some of his tubers were sold for a dollar apiece at the New Haven horticultural fair. Additionally, the Hon. William Clark of Northampton reportedly harvested a barrel of potatoes from a single tuber divided into eyes.
Judge Buel, the esteemed editor of The Cultivator, emphasizes deep ploughing and early planting for maximizing Rohan potato yields. Here are some of his insightful observations:
“Having cultivated the Rohan potato for two seasons, we confidently recommend it as a valuable addition to our agricultural practices.
“Firstly, their table quality is commendable. If not superior, they are undeniably good, possessing yellow, firm flesh, and a pleasant flavor.
“Secondly, they allow for significant seed economy. With two eyes sufficient for planting a hill (and many tubers having thirty to forty eyes), three to four bushels can cover an acre of land.
“Thirdly, they simplify harvesting. A single worker can dig up three times the amount of Rohan potatoes compared to standard varieties in the same timeframe. Their substantial size allows for efficient handling, as demonstrated by 110 of our largest tubers easily filling a flour barrel. We witnessed firsthand one man harvesting 27 bushels within an hour after the tops were removed, all with moderate effort.
“Finally, their yield is exceptional. We gathered 175 bushels from a mere 85 rods of land, while our usual varieties produced less than half.”
Respectfully, your friend and humble servant, William Kenrick.
Nonantum Hill, Newton, Dec. 25, 1838.
Since our initial observations on this variety in our previous volume, numerous cultivation experiments have confirmed its status as the most prolific potato variety known to date. —Ed.
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The Rohan potato is mentioned again in the Annual Report of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture, Volume 14 from 1859.
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The Rohan potato, characterized by its coarse texture, proved to be an exceptionally high-yielding but ultimately unsuitable table potato. However, it might hold potential as a supplemental winter feed for livestock when combined with turnips or artichokes. Assuming every plant serves a purpose, the existing prejudice against this particular potato could stem from a misunderstanding of its optimal use. No one familiar with the Rohan potato’s appearance or taste would advocate for its cultivation or dedicate resources to it in its current state.
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This final excerpt originates from a more recent publication, Essays on The Early History of Plant Pathology and Mycology in Canada, published in 1994.
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Considering the widely reported potato crop failures, it’s understandable that some desperate farmers clung to stories of “wonder potatoes” - varieties supposedly resistant to the dreaded blight and capable of outperforming all others in yield. One such “miracle” variety emerged around 1837: the Rohan Potato. The demand for this potato was so high that the editor of the Commercial News and General Advertiser of Saint John, in their November 13, 1839 issue, remarked on the “Rohan Potato mania” sweeping Fredericton. The Rohan’s fame in Ontario was further fueled by a farmer’s statement published in the November 14, 1839, issue of the Brockville Recorder: “While the blight has, for a considerable time, decimated nearly every variety of potato planted as early as these Rohans, they have continued to thrive.” Despite frequent mentions in eastern Canadian agricultural publications for several years before the emergence of late blight disease caused by the Phytophthora infestans fungus, it seems the Rohan potato proved as vulnerable as other varieties. This is evident in its scarce mention after 1844.
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This concludes the intriguing historical account of the Rohan potato, a seemingly real variety recognized for its hardiness and productivity. Sadly, its complete story remains a mystery.
This is the almanac where I first discovered the Rohan potato.