Tuesday, November 21, 2017

1894 - The World's Columbian Exposition Potato from Iowa



Potatoes.  They are so visually humble.  I think I like them as horticultural art because they are a challenge.

I wonder how many vegetables were named so as to bask in the glow of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893?!    

I haven't found reference to it being at the fair.   

The Iowa Seed Company was established in 1871.  









Columbian Peachblow Potatoes 

Every dealer in seed potatoes has numerous calls for the old Peachblow potato, and often in the descriptions various sorts are compared in quality to it. In this grand new variety we have combined all the good qualities of the old variety and none of the poor ones.

It originated in this state about eight years ago from a seed ball of the White Peachblow, and has been carefully grown and selected ever since. It is an exceedingly handsome variety, the shape and peculiar color is well shown by our illustration. 


It is nearly round, but slightly flattened. Color a beautiful creamy white with an irregular blotch of bright red at stem end. Sets tubers earlier than either the old Peachblow or the White Peachblow. Matures with Bonanza, or a trifle earlier. 

It is remarkably productive, exceeding any potatoes in existence that we are acquainted with in this respect, yielding ten to fourteen or more large tubers to the hill, or about twice as many as Potentate and other similar sorts, and the crop averages good medium size, not overly large and very few small ones. 

The eyes are very nearly level with surface except a slight depression at the seed end, a characteristic of the Peachblow. It cooks dry and fine without "cooking off," and is unsurpassed in quality. Keeps better than any other we have ever seen or heard of. Have kept them in an ordinary way until State Fair time (about September 1st) nearly one year from the time they were dug, and had them in good eating
condition then. Very uniform in size, shape and characteristics. Vines very strong and robust but not tall, foliage very dark green, with flower of dark purple. 


Summing it all up it is the very best potato for main crop in existence, and we hope every farmer and gardener who receives our catalogue this year will give it a trial. Order early so as to be sure and obtain them. They will be shipped at the proper season. 
Per lb. 50c, 3 lbs. for S1.25, postpaid; 3 lbs. by express for 75c; peck. S2.00.
__________________


In spite of the most exceeding bad weather for late potatoes this year, the Columbian Peachblow did well, yielding nine to twelve fine, uniform potatoes to each hill. Am greatly pleased with them, and would like to plant ten acres of this variety next year.

WILLIAM H'JSTER. Dallas County. Iowa.








More Columbian Exposition and bits and pieces:

No comments:

Post a Comment