Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1921-10-28
Introducing the
Southern Yam

History says that sweet potatoes
were among the New World prod
ucts that Columbus discovered and
carried back as a gift to Queen Isa-
bella of Spain. Something over four
centuries have elapsed since then
but lot of Americans have yet to
discover the sweet potato, some
times lovingly referred to as the
yam tater." They are the losers
thereby.
Whoever for the first time finds
a heaping plateful of well-browned
Southern vans within easy arms
reach has embarked upon one of
life's richest gastronomic voyages,
Presently he will learn of casseroled
vans and candied yams and baked
vans and sweet potatoe a Ia Agnes.
And each will taste better than the
others. For the Southern sweet
potato is most versatile tuber; eX-
rerts. say it can be prepared IN more
tran one hundred 0ppetizing forms
But it positively will not stand for
plain boiling, as it's Irish contempt
rary is served. The housewife or
chef who attempts this atrocity,
yam lovers declare, ought to be
hailed into court on a charge of Gull
nary sabotage. ":.a. sn~...,
There is a bumper crop of South
ern sweet potatoes this year, bigger
than ever before. 1t comes at time
when the Irish-potato crop is below
normal, also at a time when people
are eating more field foods and less
meat. This situation ought to lead
to wider introduction of the sweet
potato to the tables of the North. |
It's friends-and all who have eaten
it in its properly cooked form be-
come it's devoted friends-declare
that once it gets a foothold in the |
Northern markets it will never be
Some hard obstacles are in the
way, however. Thousands of North
ern families know the sweet potato
only by hearsay or not at all. They
must be educated TO an appreciation
Of it, which also means they must be
taught how to prepare it. Then the
Southern growers must be in pO-
,ition to fill order with well-graded
and standardized shipments. Mix
ng Porto Ricans with Nancy Halls
ind Southern Queens would be as
atal as mixing a shipment of Deli
ious, Mcintosh and Winesap apples.
letting the Northern trade and
lolding it will call for organization,
and careful merchandise
ng, which means cooperation at its
'est.
The modern curing and storage
las overcome the danger of waste
nd permits an orderly marketing
f the crop. The South has the soil
nd climate to grow still greater
creage Of sweet potatoes. The
southern sweet potato has more
han enough fine food qualities to
a much larger consumption
han at present. 1t is up to the
outh. An opportunity like this
hould not be neglected.
Here's final hint to the South:
'on't neglect any free advertising.
Mist the aid Of those Middle West
ditors who write reams of seduc-
i've blather each autum about the
awpaw and the persimmon. Give
1em real Southern delicacy to go
ito editorial ecstasies over. Chal-
,nge the Kansas editors to try to
o the sweet potato justice. A real
unflower editor can rhapsodize for
x weeks over a custard pie without
epeating himself and will doubtless
link himself able to paint sweet
otato a brown turn. Put it up to
i'm. Let him dip his pen in yam
rip and decimatte the dictionary.
Country Gentleman.