SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETING. 249 



DEMONSTRATION IN POTATO JUDGING. 

 By Proe. Bele. 



When I came to Maine last January to have charge of the 

 agronomy work at the University, I learned, of course, that 

 ]\Iaine was famous for its potatoes. I thought it would be 

 foolish for me to get out a score card because I knew the prac- 

 tical growers were noted for this crop. What I did was to 

 strike ofif a score card and send it to about fifty of the most 

 prominent potato growers. I took the suggestions from the 

 replies that I received and balanced them up and this score 

 card is the result. 



Under general appearance we should have size, freshness 

 and shape. Size is relative. The potatoes should be uniform 

 in size. You will say that there is a great variation in size. 

 On the score card size refers to the relative size of the potato 

 as compared with other exhibits. Regularity in size refers to 

 regularity in shape, to some extent. The next point is fresh- 

 ness. The potato should be fresh and hard, showing that the 

 vitality is not weakened. It should not show a shriveled con- 

 dition. The word shape, brings up the question of varieties, 

 but the usual shape is oblong. 



Next we have trueness to type. Now comes the breed char- 

 acteristics. If we are raising Green Mountain potatoes we 

 want Green Mountain. We do not want part of one kind and 

 part of another. If we are raising a pure type of potatoes, 

 the same as a pure type of apples or corn, we want them true 

 to type. The Green Mountain potato should be rather wide, 

 with a good even conformation, a little more oval than some 

 varieties, the ends rounded over and not thick. Whatever the 

 variety, you want trueness to type. 



The potato should have definite eyes, but we wish to discrimi- 

 nate against deep eyes. The market has no place for deep-eyed 

 potatoes, because in peeling too much of the potato is lost. 



Under soundness there are one or two things we wish to con- 

 sider. First of all, freedom from a hollow center. Big pota- 

 toes sometimes are hollow at the center. You can tell by the 

 sound if this is the case. Then there must be toughness of 

 skin. If they are dug before they are ripe, the skin will not 

 be so tough. A good many people dig potatoes while they are 

 oreen. You save a little time and inconvenience but vou hurt 







