CHAPTER VII 

 VARIETIES 



Selecting a Variety. — For general farming it is 

 advisable to grow only a few varieties. Most success- 

 ful growers seldom have half a dozen growing for mar- 

 keting, and usually one is selected as more suitable 

 than the rest. The beginner is advised to select a 

 variety from the more thoroughly tested kinds that 

 have done well in his immediate vicinity and on his type 

 of soil. The seed should be obtained from a reliable 

 grower or a responsible seedsman. The importance 

 of growing the best varieties cannot be too strongly 

 emphasized. To many a potato is a potato, and any- 

 thing is used for seed. Such haphazard methods 

 cannot survive. Potatoes are grown for human con- 

 sumption, and the public taste must be considered. 

 Good quality and good yield are required. In some 

 localities good quality potatoes appear to be grown in 

 spite of adverse conditions, but not all of the crop can 

 be produced in this way. 



Some of the points to consider in selecting the 

 variety are : 



1 . Good cooking qtiality and flavor. This is partly 



influenced by the soil, season, ability to mature 

 before frost, etc. 



2. The yield. The late maturing varieties usually 



j'ield heavier than the early varieties. Yield is 

 influenced, among other things, by the adapta- 

 bility of the variety to the distri(5l and soil. 

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