Page 29 - Simply Vegetables Spring 2021

A Step Back into the Past
BARRY NEWMAN FNVS
I have recently had the good fortune to stumble upon a copy of Potatoes, how to grow and show them by James Pink published in 1879
I’ve been so taken by the book that
I wanted to share some of it with you, particularly the chapter on the judging of potatoes. I’m sure the book was written in tune with all the science and technology that was available at the time, but it is hard not to smile 150 years on. That said, I’m sure you will find some very familiar comparisons, but equally some very unusual criteria for the judges at the time.
There is no doubt Mr Pink was a very accomplished grower and showman of his day. His greatest success coming at the annual International Potato Competitions held at the Alexandra Palace in 1875-6, at the Royal Aquarium in 1877 and the Crystal Palace in 1878 where he obviously cleaned up.
Regarding the latter show he recounts...
at no previous exhibition have the various collections staged been of such high quality and superior style, nor the competition so keen, as at this show, there being scarcely a bad dish placed on the tables, many of the collections being of such nearly equal merit in every respect as to give the judges some difficulty in making the awards. No change there then!
He was clearly no shrinking violet either, stating in the preface to the book... The value of the potato, and the interest taken
in its culture at the present day, must be
my excuse for laying before the public my method of culture, which may be considered to have been fairly successful, it having obtained for me, during the last four years, the greatest number of prizes of any one exhibitor at the great International Potato Exhibitions.
To set the scene, the 4th International Potato Exhibition at the Crystal Palace comprised; English varieties of which there were 1,039 dishes exhibited comprising 131 varieties. American varieties were represented by 500 dishes comprising 37 varieties. All of which are listed in the book, none of which were familiar to me with the exception of International Kidney.
The following is Mr. Pink’s opinion on how judging should proceed;
At the present time, when so many new and improved varieties are being annually introduced, judging potatoes is a subject that requires a wide extent of practical knowledge. A judge should not only know what a good potato is, but he should also have a practical knowledge of at least all
the principal kinds in cultivation, and be
well acquainted with their habit of growth, productive powers, and the table qualities of the tubers.
You can’t help but wonder how Winston would have performed under this last criterion!
The principle by which potatoes are usually judged is by a standard nine
points, thus: three points for size, three
for shape, and three for appearance and quality, ignoring entirely the productive powers, which should be one of the first considerations, for no matter how handsome in shape and appearance the tubers may be, if the variety is of a weak constitution, and
its tubers are but sparingly produced, it can only be considered a second- rate kind.
With the addition of such a large number of new varieties to the list of those already in cultivation, the standard by which potatoes are judged should be raised to such a position, that not only size, shape and quality be taken into consideration by the judges, but also the general habit and productive powers of each variety. This could be done by raising the number of points to ten, two points for size, two for quality, two for shape, two for habit and two for productive powers.
I would think considering habit and productive powers would need a genius as there were said to be about 600 named varieties in cultivation at the time. Luckily
Mr. Pink’s suggestion of the additional two criteria was not taken on board. Whilst today we are clear on the difference between an Exhibition and a Competition, the lines were clearly blurred in 1878, so it is surprising, whilst happy to pick up the red cards and prize money, he went on to say;
Growing potatoes solely for show purposes, and using special means for their production, is a most objectionable practice, and one that defeats the very end and aim of these exhibitions, which is to elevate
the general character of the potato, and
to encourage the production of first class tubers under such forms and methods of culture as can be carried out by all growers.
The utopia of a level playing field? Now that would take all the fun out of it. No special mixtures, no poly pots, no secret feeds, in fact, if he was around today Mr Pink would certainly have been in the vanguard for the introduction of organic classes in all competitions. I wonder what criteria he would have drawn up for that, probably home visits and a flag stamp like the National Pot Leek Society.
Returning to what the judges should be looking for; he goes on to say
Potato-tubers for exhibition should be
of as even a size as possible, and fairly represent the variety to which they belong. They should be of an even and symmetrical shape, clear skinned, free from blotches,
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