Description and Classification 25 



the situation. Moreover, many so-called new varieties 

 are merely the old varieties under a new name. But on 

 the whole, the old standard varieties may be recognized 

 fairly accurately. 



Potatoes may be classified according to the shape of 

 the tubers. "Tubers are not always of the same form; 

 three moderately distinct and fairly constant types are 

 prevalent, namely, (1) round, (2) oval and (3) kidney 

 shapes. The round type is somewhat spherical and has 

 fewer internodes and 'eyes' than the oval or kidney- 

 shaped potatoes. The kidney potatoes are thickest at 

 the stem or basal end and taper gradually at the apex 

 or seed end, while the oval varieties are thickest in the 

 middle and taper towards both ends (see Fig. 7). These 

 differences are sufficiently marked and constant for a 

 comparison of the varieties in cultivation." — Percival. 



Important varieties of Iowa and the Central West 



C. L. Fitch, ^ of the Iowa State College, made a thor- 

 ough trial for a series of years of all varieties of commercial 

 importance in the United States and Europe. He made 

 also a canvass in person and by letter of the markets 

 of the United States. The result was that only a few 

 varieties were found to be of much commercial impor- 

 tance. He lists the following varieties as being the most 

 valuable in the United States in order of their importance : 



1. Rural 5. Irish Cobbler 



2. Green Mountain 6. Bliss Triumph 



3. Early Ohio 7. Peerless (Pearl) 



4. Burbank 



1 Fitch, C. L. "Identification of Potato Varieties." Iowa Extension 

 Bui. 20 (1914). 



