Odd Fancies in Naming Potatoes
Specimens in New York State's Exhibit Have Queer Appellations
Several Hundred Varieties Shown
Onions are there in Odoiferous Numbers and Many Beets Are Also Shown...
Buffalo Evening News May 27, 1901
The Murhpy family is very numerously represented at the Exposition these days.
Not only is J.H. Murphy, the Chief of Construction, present, but also "Maggie Murphy," "Kyran Murphy," and "Murphy, King of Meath."
To be explicit, the last named three are members of the potato family, which constitutes a very prominent feature of New York's exhibits in the Agricultural building.
To the ordinary visitor the extent and variety of the potato exhibit of the Empire State is a revelation. There are 355 plates of potato on exhibition and there is seldom a plateful duplicated. By actual count there are more than 300 varieties of the lowly Murphies exhibition.
The exhibitors show considerable ingenuity in naming their favorite "spuds." Burton McKernon of Greenwich, New York, which is located among the spudiferous hills of Washington County, has named one brand the "Pan-American." Another variety rejoices in the up-to-date appellation of "20th Century." A third rejoices in the name of "Pingree," in honor of the potato patch potentate of the Straits City.
Many varieties bear names of obviously Hibernian association. Among these are "Irish Kearn," "Irish Cobbler," "Irish Daisy," "Celtic Beauty." "and plain "Irish."
Other more peculiar names are "Teddy Roosevelt," "White Elephant," "Empire State," "Negro Head," "Pink Eye", "Calico," "Orphan," and "Money Maker."
While the potatoes attract attention by their number, a gale of very pronounced odors from another table compels attention to where the onions are clamoring for notice. There are 44 plates which exhale as many distinct smells, odors, savors and whiffs. After a hasty long-distance survey of the field, the visitor gladly concedes that New York's exhibit of onions is a strong one.
In variety, however, it is beaten by the beets upon an adjacent table. There are about 44 varieties of these, and they range in size from not much larger than a radish, to mammoths of 10 pounds a piece, one of which would supply one day's rations for a cow.
Other vegetables conspicuous in New York's agricultural exhibits are tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, turnips, carrots and strawberry plants. The entire collection is a grand advertisement of the extent and variety of the agricultural products of the State.