Potato Breeding 49 



the production of mere novelties unless the new variety 

 possesses some property which makes a real contribution 

 to our present varieties. 



It is unfair and dishonest consciously to rename old 

 varieties under the pretense of producing something new. 

 Our list of varieties contains many synonyms, and these 

 should not be consciously increased. 



In general, the improvement of our present standard 

 varieties offers greater opportunities for the increased 

 efficiency of the new generation of plants than the pro- 

 duction of entirely new varieties. 



Ideals for the perfect potato will change in the different 

 localities. Certain attributes, however, are universally 

 desired. These are as follows : 



(1) High yield. 



(2) Good quality. 



(3) Disease-resisting capabilities. 



(4) Good keeping qualities. 



(5) Good color of flesh and skin. 



(6) Skin of desirable texture. 



(7) Tubers of good shape. 



(8) Shallow eyes, relatively few in number. 



(9) Maturing in season common to the variety. 



(10) Upright, vigorous plants. 



(11) Heavy leaf cuticle. 



(12) No tendency to make second growth. 



(13) Trueness to type of variety grown. 



High yield is essential if the grower expects to continue 

 raising potatoes for market. In aiming to secure high 

 yield, however, we should remember that there are many 

 other factors which determine the marketability and 

 price of the product. Tubers of inferior quality, size 



