REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 85 
POTATOES. 
The Department of Agriculture, during the past year, has distributed throughout 
the country six new varieties of Irish potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), reputed to possess, 
among others, three superior qualities, viz: Earliness in maturing, quantity of yield, 
and delicacy for the table; they are the Victor, Alpha, Ruby, Beauty of Hebron, and 
Clarke’s Nos. 5 and 6. Reports received from experimenters have very generally 
proved the correctness of the merits claimed for these tubers, and have shown varied 
successes with the different varieties in different localities. Numerous statements 
have been received from different States, assuring the department that the benefits 
realized from the distribution of these improved tubers are alone very great, and ex- 
ceed in value the entire annual appropriations for the department. 
ALabama.—In this State the Beauty of Hebron is reported as ripening earlier than 
Early Rose, every way equal in quality, and more productive in yield, ranging from 
10 to 50 fold for 1 planted. Nearly equal results are reported for the other varieties. 
One important lesson is noticeable in returns from this as from most other States, 
namely, that best results are uniformly obtained, both in quantity and quality, from 
well-drained, deeply-plowed land. The earliness or dates of ripening is reported as 
taking place at quite different periods at different points, not only with the different 
varieties, but with the same variety under different hands, ranging in length of time 
from 65 to 120 days from date of planting. Beauty of Hebron planted March 8 rip- 
ened in 90 days; yield, rate of 317 bushels per acre; equal to the best in quality. Vic- 
tor ripened in 115 days; yield, 252 pounds for 4 pounds planted; flavor good. Alpha 
and Ruby, early, light yield, but good quality. No. 5 yield 300 pounds for 16 pounds 
planted; extra good quality; not quite so early. 
Marne—Reports that Beauty of Hebron, planted May 4, showed vines luxuriant; 
ripened in 100 days; isearlierthan the Early Rose; yield light; tubers good size, smooth, 
and excellent for the table. 
New JERsEY—Reports Victor, planted April 22, ripe in 110 days; yield 30 for 1; not 
very good. Alpha, planted same date, earlier than above; yield less, but better for 
table. Beauty of Hebron about same as above. Another report: Victor bloomed 
June 12; ripe in 80 days; yield 80 pounds for 1 quart planted ; not as good to eat as 
Early Rose. Alpha, ripe in 70 days; yield light, but quality equal to Early Rose, and 
better than Victor. Beauty of Hebron, planted May 14; blossomed June 19; ripened 
early; yield, 75 pounds for 1 planted; flavor equal to Early Rose. One report says 
the Breese No. 4 is equal to any sent out by the department. Another report: Victor 
planted April 20; ripe in 117 days; yield very large; quality mealy and good. Ruby, 
planted April 20, ripe in 90 days; yield fair; tubers mealy and good. Beauty of He- 
bron, planted April 20; ripe in 100 days; yield large; tubers fine and good. Clarke’s 
No. 5, planted April 10; dug August 28, yield 9 pecks from 1 quart; very good. 
PENNSYLVANIA—Reports the Victor, planted April 30, dug July 27; yield fair, 
quality good. Alpha not quite equal to Early Rose in quality or yield; small tubers; 
fair for table. Ruby, fair, small yield, not quite equal.to the above. Beauty of He- 
bron, planted May 1, bloomed July 8, dug August 20; yield 44 bushels from 6 quarts ; 
large, smooth, fine tubers, earlier than Early Rose. Anotherreport: Victor, planted 
April 9, dug August 23, white and mealy, good flavor; yield, rate of 22,500 pounds per 
acre—about 370 bushels. Beauty of Hebron, planted ‘April 9; ripe August 1; yield, 
13,047 pounds per acre; (about 217 bushels) medium quality. 
DELAWARE.—Beauty of Hebron reported to be earlier than Early Rose; excellent 
quality, and yield 26 fold for 1 planted; by Mr. Rosa, master State grange. 
MARYLAND.—Victor matured before Early Rose; equal to the best; the Alpha, 
Hebron, and Victor gave tubers of size from 6 to 8 inches, long diameter; and the 
Hebron gave 25 good tubers on a single vine, doubling the yield of the Early Rose. 
Ruby, planted April 5, dug July 3; yield 267 pounds for 6 pounds planted; fine form, 
color, and flavor; same, ripe in 90 days from planting, and dug 4 bushels from 1 quart 
planted. Another report says: ‘Beauty of Hebron gave 6 bushels for 1 quart planted ; 
the hills manured with hog’s hair, the best fertilizer ever used.” Another: 1 peck 
gave about 4 bushels large, fine tubers, but somewhat liable to rot. 
Vircinra.—One report: Victor No. 1, planted March 1, 11 pounds seed; blossomed 
June 8, dug July 8; yield 290 pounds; dry, solid, good for table. Alpha, No. 2, planted 
March 1,7 pounds; two-thirds rotted in the ground; no bloom; dug June 26; yield 
one-half bushel; boiled dry, and good for eating, but rot badly. Beauty of Hebron, 
planted March 7, 11 pounds of seed; bloomed June 5, dug June 26; yield 183 pounds ; 
no rot; boiled dry and flaky; excellent for the table. Victor and Alapha planted in 
clay-gravel soil well fertilized, the Beauty of Hebron was planted in sandy loam well 
fertilized ; one single vine from a single eye gave 4 pounds of tubers ; 64 tubers weighed 
60 pounds; the seed of all were cut to single eyes, planted in rows; the report says 
the Victor and Hebron are a valuable acquisition to farmers of Virginia. The Ruby 
ripens in 85 days; yield 408 pounds for 8 planted. Another report: Victor ripe in 95 
days; yield 3 barrels fair tubers for 8 pounds planted. Alpha ripe in 85 days; yield 
