POTATOES 371 



The greater part of the late potato crop is shipped in carload 

 lots in bulk or in gunny sacks; if in sacks, 165 or 180 pounds, 

 according to the demands of the market in which they are to be 

 sold, are placed in each sack. 



Varieties. The difference in the length of time for potatoes to 

 mature has already been recognized in discussing the distinction 

 made at the North between early and late potatoes. Besides these 

 differences there are marked contrasts in the adaptation of different 

 sorts to different soils ; not only do some sorts yield better upon a 

 certain kind of soil, but the quality of the tuber varies with the 

 character of the soil. 



Since the discovery that certain plants are more resistant to 

 diseases than others, this fact has been taken as the basis for 

 evolving varieties which possess the ability to resist blight or 

 rot. At present we have several so-called resistant varieties that 

 have some merit. Many breeders are giving this point special 

 consideration, and it is probable that within a few years resistant 

 varieties will be as well marked as are early and late sorts at the 

 present time. 



The production of new varieties of potatoes is a matter of more 

 than ordinary interest because it is so different from the method of 

 commercial reproduction. Commercially, the potato is reproduced 

 from vegetative parts, that is, by the tubers without the interven- 

 tion of true seed, but the development of new sorts is based on 

 reproduction from seed produced by the seed balls. The seed ball 

 is of rare occurrence in many varieties, the universal reproduction 

 of the plant by vegetative parts seeming to have had the effect of 

 discouraging the production of seed balls by most varieties. Sorts 

 show a great difference in this respect ; some produce few or no 

 seed balls, while others produce them in comparative profusion. 

 The element of chance, which is such a large factor in the pro- 

 duction of new varieties, renders the potato a particularly attractive 

 subject to work with. 



For early crop use Early Rose, Beauty of Hebron, Early Ohio at 

 the North, and Bliss's Triumph (Red Bliss, or Triumph), Early 

 Ohio, and Irish Cobbler at the South. For late crop use Green 

 Mountain, Carman, Rural New Yorker, White Giant, and Burbank 

 for the North, and McCormick for Maryland and Virginia. 



