SWEET POTATOES 261 



becoming tasteless to them as they are to the Southerner. When well ma- 

 tured in winter the baked yam, with its jelly-like meat, is a delicious morsel, 

 and far sweeter than any dry potato. But the market grower must consult 

 the tastes of his patrons, and it will probably be a long time before there is 

 u demand North for the vastly superior potatoes the Southern people eat at 

 home. 



VARIETIES OF THE SWEET POTATO. 



The most popular potato in the great cities of the North is doubtless the 

 Yellow Xansemond, which is largely grown in New Jersey and Delaware, 

 and a similar potato known in Virginia as the "Red Nose," which is largely 

 grown in the Peninsula of Virginia for the Northern market. All potatoes 

 of this class are known as "Yellow Barks" in the South, and are there grown 

 only by those engaged in shipping North. In some sections of Virginia a 

 large, light skinned potato with yellow flesh, known as the "Hayman" or 

 "Southern Queen," is grown both for home use and Northern shipment. It 

 is intermediate between the yams of the South and the yellow barks. This 

 was brought to North Carolina many years ago by a sea captain named 

 Hayman, from Brazil; hence the name, Hay man. Years ago it got into the 

 hands of a Northern seedsman, who introduced it as the "Southern Queen." 

 It is one of the most productive of sweet potatoes, and is early and the easiest 

 of all to keep in winter. Hence it is well adapted to Northern culture as it 

 can be planted there late in June and make a crop. Of the distinctively 

 Southern varieties the most popular are the "Pumpkin Yam" and "Norton 

 Yam," with deep pumpkin colored flesh ; the Barbadoes in two varieties, white 

 and yellow, and the Jewell yam, of a yellow color. There is a variety known as 

 "Nigger Choker," which would suit the Northern taste. It is a deep, pur- 

 plish red on the outside, but the flesh is pure white and very dry, and hence 

 not popular in the South. The most productive of all sweet potatoes is the 

 "Peabody." This grows to a very large size and is used in the South largely 

 for hog feed, on account of its productiveness. It is too dry and lacks the 

 sweetness which the Southern taste demands, and is only eaten here when 

 partly grown, because it reaches a table size earlier than others and is salable 

 till better potatoes are on the market. There are many other sorts in dif- 

 ferent parts of the South', and a good deal has been said of late about the vine- 

 less yam. The fact is that there are a number of vineless sweet potatoes, 

 or sorts that do not make a running vine, and we have had several varieties 

 to sport into this character among the ordinary sorts. We have failed to see 

 any particular advantage in the vineless sweet potatoes. 



