Potato with spectacles — and other ag tales

Agricultural oddities — Believe them or not

As the Irish that settled on the east end of Glens Falls used to say: “Never let the facts get in the way of a really great story.”

If a potato has eyes, can the tuber suffer from poor vision?

Consider this Oct. 22, 1875 report in the Granville Sentinel:

“J. Thompson dug up a potato in a patch in Hartford in which a pair of spectacles was found. They proved to be a pair that Mr. Thompson lost four years ago.”

It’s a good thing that Mr. Thompson, who to the best of my knowledge is not related to me, was not in a hurry to have mashed potatoes for dinner.

In other Agricultural Oddities —

The Morning Star of Glens Falls — July 2, 1883

“Your (Fort Edward) correspondent was shown a strawberry at the market of A. Kinne on Saturday that measured 6 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches around. Who beats that?”

The Post-Star — March 28, 1919

“Poultry owners who think they have records for large eggs will have to see Stephen LeClair of Seminary Street (in Fort Edward) before the honors will be taken from the upper end of the village. Mr. LeClair has an egg laid a few days ago which measures nine inches by six-and-a-half inches and weighs six ounces. The egg was produced by a Barred Rock hen.”

Would you like a side of home fries with that omelette?

The Morning Star — Aug. 13, 1883

“M. L. Wilmarth, Ridge Street (Glens Falls), on Saturday dug a hill of potatoes containing eighteen fine tubers that weighed six-and-a-half pounds. They were of the Hebron Beauty Variety.”