260 



IRISH POTATOES 



The skin may also be smooth, marked with russet dots, or russet. 

 There are also degrees of smoothness, some varieties being glistening 

 smooth, while others are dull. The degree of russeting also varies. 



Sprouts. The color of sprouts is very important in determining 

 the main groups of varieties. The color is determined by germinat- 

 ing the potatoes in the dark, and as soon as the sprouts appear, 



FIG. 100. Illustration of a potato plant showing relation of the above-ground stem 

 and underground stem. The end of the underground stem is enlarged into a tuber. The 

 eyes correspond to buds, and are arranged in a spiral about the tuber. Below is a peach 

 twig to illustrate farther the relation of tuber and a stem. 



examining for color, usually with a magnifying glass. The sprout 

 is tipped with minute scales or leaflets, which may be either colored 

 or white. Also base of sprouts may be either colored or white. 



The usual colors are white, cream-white, pink, rose, rose-lilac, 

 magenta, lilac, violet, deep violet. 



Flowers. Colors are white, rose, rose-lilac, rose-purple, purple 

 and violet. 



