Changes

In Britain the potato promoted economic development by underpinning the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the 19th century. As a cheap source of calories and nutrients that was easy for urban workers to cultivate on small backyard plots. Potatoes became popular in the north of England, where coal was readily available, so a potato-driven population boom provided ample workers for the new factories. Marxist [[Friedrich Engels]] even declared that the potato was the equal of iron for its "historically revolutionary role.

In Britain the potato promoted economic development by underpinning the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the 19th century. As a cheap source of calories and nutrients that was easy for urban workers to cultivate on small backyard plots. Potatoes became popular in the north of England, where coal was readily available, so a potato-driven population boom provided ample workers for the new factories. Marxist [[Friedrich Engels]] even declared that the potato was the equal of iron for its "historically revolutionary role.

[[Image:Famine.jpg|thumb|300px]]  

[[Image:FAMINE-IRELAND.JPG|thumb|300px]]  

The Lumper potato, widely cultivated in western and southern Ireland before and during the great famine, was tasteless, wet, and poorly resistant to the potato blight, but yielded large crops and usually provided adequate calories for peasants and laborers. Heavy dependence on this potato led to disaster when the potato blight turned a newly harvested potato into a putrid mush in minutes. The [[Irish Famine]] in the British-controlled island of [[Ireland, history|Ireland]], 1845-49, was a catastrophic failure in the food supply that led to approximately a million deaths from famine and disease, vast social disruption and to massive emigration.  

The Lumper potato, widely cultivated in western and southern Ireland before and during the great famine, was tasteless, wet, and poorly resistant to the potato blight, but yielded large crops and usually provided adequate calories for peasants and laborers. Heavy dependence on this potato led to disaster when the potato blight turned a newly harvested potato into a putrid mush in minutes. The [[Irish Famine]] in the British-controlled island of [[Ireland, history|Ireland]], 1845-49, was a catastrophic failure in the food supply that led to approximately a million deaths from famine and disease, vast social disruption and to massive emigration.  

The Dutch potato-starch industry grew rapidly in the 19th century, especially under the leadership of entrepreneur Willem Albert Scholten (1819-92).

The Dutch potato-starch industry grew rapidly in the 19th century, especially under the leadership of entrepreneur Willem Albert Scholten (1819-92).

===US and Canada===

===US and Canada===

Potatoes were planted in Idaho as early as 1838; by 1900 the state's production exceeded a million bushels. Prior to 1910, the crops were stored in barns or root cellars, but by the 1920s potato cellars came into use.  U.S. potato production has increased steadily; two-thirds of the crop comes from Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Maine, and potato growers have strengthened their position in both domestic and foreign markets.

Potatoes were planted in Idaho as early as 1838; by 1900 the state's production exceeded a million bushels. Prior to 1910, the crops were stored in barns or root cellars, but by the 1920s potato cellars came into use.  U.S. potato production has increased steadily; two-thirds of the crop comes from Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Maine, and potato growers have strengthened their position in both domestic and foreign markets.