BS: White elephant potato

Subject: BS: White elephant potato
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 07:56 AM

I've just started re-reading "Larkrise to Candleford" and came across a reference to the variety of potato "White elephant", that were grown in Larkrise.
Does anybody know whether they were called this because they were white and large ( the obvious reason) or because they were mis-shapen and didn't cook well and hence were a "White elephant" (un-wanted gift)?
When I tried to find out about the variety it said that they are buff in colour so I suppose that it could be said that they are not white.
Confused:)

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Mr Happy
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 08:04 AM

The United Nations have officially declared the year 2008 the International Year of the Potato!

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 08:59 AM

Well I hope the Potatoes have a great year...What about a year for humans?

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 09:02 AM

Are the Potatoes playing this year? What are their chances for the cup?

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Amos
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 10:01 AM

If diced fine.


A

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Mr Happy
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 10:38 AM

,,,,,,,,,,when the chips are down!

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: katlaughing
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 10:54 AM

So much for any straight answers!**bg**

There are no pix, but here is the official info on them: click here.

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 12:40 PM

Keep this up we'll be in for a roasting!!

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: gnomad
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 12:54 PM

More here, apparently it is a Garnet Chili x White Peachblow cross, but no info on why White Elephant is so named. I half expected to find it was an entirely fictional spud.

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 03:45 PM

Well, some of these posted seemed "half-baked" to me.

I'm a firm believer in "An eye for an eye" and "Let no spud fry that is unappealing."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 04:53 PM

Just off to watch another episode of 'Mash'

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 05:17 PM

Both the "official" sites state that they are medium size whereas in the book, which is talking about 1880ish, they are considered large.
Have potatoes got generally bigger or has the "White elephant" declined?

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 05:40 PM

It's all 'more for less' these days and perfection is the key. If you look at the cheap/basic/value bags of spuds on sale in supermarkets, they're the knobbly, misshapen ones that didn't pass the beauty competition that gets them into the expensive clear packaging and the front of the shelf.

The bigger the spud, the better.

Of course, we all know that this is complete bollocks and that it's the flavour of the individual spud that counts, but some people just want great big ones to save on peeling so much.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: White elephant potato
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 06:55 PM

Godd Heavens, it says that that plant came from NOAH!

Documentary Proof!


:-)