420 



fi:eld crops 



673. Varieties. The varieties that are cormnonly grown 

 in the more northern states are of the Jersey type, including 

 the Big Stem, Yellow, and Red Jersey varieties. The pota- 

 toes are rather short and thick, with light yellow flesh, which 

 is likely to be rather dry, especially late in the season. In 



Figure 141. — Five varieties of sweet potatoes: 1, Black Spanish or "Nigger 

 Choker;" 2, Long, cylindrical type; 3, Jersey group, spinf'le shape; 4, Red 

 Bermuda; 5, Southern Queen. The last three are most desirable in shape. 



the South, the ''yam" type of sweet potato is the more popu- 

 lar. The varieties of this type are much sw^eeter and moister 

 than those of the Jersey type; the flesh may be light yellow, 

 orange, or mottled. The individual roots are usually short 

 and thick, though they may be very slender in some varie- 

 ties. The most popular varieties of the yam type are South- 

 ern Queen, Georgia, and Red Bermuda. 



574. Importance. The area annually devoted to sweet 

 potatoes in the United States is about 600,000 to 700,000 

 acres, though in 1917 it was 953,000 acres. The production 

 in 1917 was 87,141 ,000 bushels. As the crop requires at least 



