THE POTATO. 239 



times called by the same name, while one variety, or 

 potatoes practically alike, may be known by several 

 names. The difference between varieties is often 

 marked. The habit of growth of the plant; the size, 

 shape, color, flavor and texture of the potatoes; the 

 number produced, and the time of maturing, all differ. 



New varieties are obtained by planting the seed 

 produced abundantly by some varieties and sparingly, 

 or not at all, by others. Seed fi'om the same ball may 

 produce varieties much. unlike, or they may consider- 

 ably resemble the parent variety. For the last quar- 

 ter or third of a century much attention has been paid 

 to the production of new varieties by cross-fertilization 

 of the flowers. In this way desirable qualities of two 

 varieties are frequently combined. Many thousands 

 of varieties have thus been produced by single ex- 

 periments. 



One of the first to give especial attention to the pro- 

 duction of new varieties in the United States was Kev. 

 C. E. Goodrich, of Utica, N. Y., who began the work 

 nearly fifty years ago, and produced and tested 

 nearly 15,000 seedlings. He obtained several varieties 

 of potatoes from Chile and other South American 

 countries. Few of the varieties produced by him were 

 especially valuable, but from some of them, seedlings 

 were produced which became very popular. In later 

 years large sums of money have been paid for new 

 varieties. 



It is noticeable that no variety of the potato has 

 long retained popularity in this country. Probably 

 no variety grown fifty years ago is now cultivated. 

 The Early Rose retained wide popularity for about 

 twenty-five years, and is still largely grown. The 



