Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-03-11
Tie pointo Ikirs hen.


MR.. EDIToR:-In late issue of the
Eastern Shore Herald, Mr.. Fl. R.
Bennett. calls attention to proposed
scheme for advertising the eXcellen.
cies of our Eastern Shore sweets.
The plan involves practical appeal
to the palates of the world by the
establishment of IL Potnto Kitchen in
the Virginia section of the Worlds
Exposition. Here, undor tho domi-
nation of suitable cooks to the man.
ner born. the potato is To be served.
secundum artenl, in every style known
to Eastern Shore culinary scirnc".
The suggestion appears to be emf
nently practical and feasible. ] am
glad to learn that the ladies of the
Eastern Shore connected with the
great exhibition have taken up the
proposition, with the determination
to make it q success.
1t cannot be denied that, whether
from circumstances or choice, the
Eastern Shore has tied to the sweet
potato as its staple crop. Every bust
ness interes of our county is hope
ssly committed to it, and u failure
in either crop or price is necessarily
public disaster. Most other vege
tables grown here may be, and are,
successfully cultivated in other sec
tions; and the disadvantages of COM
petition are inevitable. But the Gull
ture of the sweet potato is limited,
in general. to a comparatively small
area; and there appears to be some
thing in our soil or climate that
would almost secure for us the bene-
fits of monopoly, if the peculiar
eating quality Of our tuber could be
duly appreciated. Unfortunately,
owing to the inferior average stock
shipped from the counties now, the
reputation of our potatoes is gradual
ly losing ground. The logic of the
situation demands some effort to re-
store it. And it is easy to under
stand that whatever tends to pro-
mote the popularity of the sweet
potato, increase its consumption, and
thereby strengthen the demand for
it, is consideration of vital impor-
lance to our people. The great
West, as yet, knows comparatively
little of this luxury And yet, with
our present cheap freight-rates in
that irection-scarcely more to Chi
cago than New York-there appears
to be no reason why we should pour
out, like an avalanche, such a perish
able crop upon few nearby mar
kets, whose "gluts' are steadily low
ering the scale of prices, and there
by surely imroverishing our people.
Perhaps it would be difficult to
conceive of a plan more simple than
that suggested by Mr.. Bennett; or
one that, with so small an outlay,
would advertise our crop SO widely.
Among the many diversified exhibits
of our vast country. to say nothing
of those of every other land and
cline. the Potato Kitchen would
furnish an unique and striking feature
1t is hardly possible to estimate the
material advantages to be derived
from such an advertisement, and Mr..
Bennett will prove himself public
benefactor if, by the successful oper-
alton of his scheme, he cqn even
double the demand for this staple
crop of the Eastern Shore.
BY all means, let us have the native
Eastern Shore cook-in checked
apron. and bandanna turban. Let
US have potatoes baked, roasted and
fried; hot potato biscuit and potato
pies and custards; and with little
genuine Eastern Shore butter and a
glass of good milk, the native or
alien who tastes is lost. He will
never forget our Eastern Shore
sweets. G. W. L.