Lesson 7-Spring Sowing III. The Potato Comes to Ireland However it arrived, one thing can be said for certain-the potato caught on very quickly in Ireland. The potato's popularity was based on the potato producing more food per acre than any other crops Irish farmers had grown before. In peaceful times the potato spread throughout Ireland as a healthy and reliable source of food. In times of war it was popular as well. When soldiers destroyed farmers' crops and livestock-as soldiers often did-, the potato would survive because it was hidden and buried below ground. When the soldiers left, people could still dig up potatoes and eat them W BT L E To be continued on the next page. BACLesson 7—Spring Sowing W B T L E However it arrived, one thing can be said for certain—the potato caught on very quickly in Ireland. The potato's popularity was based on the potato producing more food per acre than any other crops Irish farmers had grown before. In peaceful times the potato spread throughout Ireland as a healthy and reliable source of food. In times of war it was popular as well. When soldiers destroyed farmers' crops and livestock—as soldiers often did—, the potato would survive because it was hidden, and buried below ground. When the soldiers left, people could still dig up potatoes and eat them. To be continued on the next page. III. The Potato Comes to Ireland