THE POTATO IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. 45 



such as corn, naturally cross-fertilize through the agency of wind, etc. On the other 

 hand, such crops as wheat, oats, and potatoes have to be cross-fertilized artificially 

 in order to produce new varieties. This method of improvement, however, should be 

 left to experiment stations to follow out. 



The object of artificial cross-fertilization is not merely to produce new varieties, 

 ivir.-mlless of their merits, hut rather to produce varieties in which certain good, 

 desirable points of one variety have been combined with certain good desirable 

 points of another. 



The following description is the breeders' ideal for a good potato: 



" A good potato should be true to variety, of good quality, disease-resistant, a 

 good keeper, of desirable colour of flesh and skin, shallow-eyed, and smooth outline. 

 It should be nu'sily and show a close texture on being cut. The shape of the potato 

 should be such as suits the market for which it is grown." 



With potatoes, whenever fertilization takes place, seed-balls are produced on 

 the plants. It is possible to produce new varieties of potatoes from the seeds of 

 them, but the chances for producing a superior variety are not so good as when 

 artificial cross-fertilization is practised. 



Mixing of Varieties. Will varieties of potatoes mix in the field? This question 

 is often asked and always answered in the negative, the reason heing that the potato 

 is propagated by means of tubers (asexually) and not by seed. It is impossible for 

 any crossing to take place except when potatoes are produced from seed. Environ- 

 mental influences may bring about changes in the plant which causes a breaking-up 

 of the type. Such changes are called " sports " or " mutations." This occurs also 

 among other species of plants and animals. 



CLASSIFICATION OF VARIETIES. 



At a time when there are many hundreds of varieties of potatoes on the market, 

 some old varieties under new names, growers would do well to make themselves 

 acquainted with some kind of group classification of varieties. 



In looking over varieties of potatoes at fairs and other exhibitions, one 

 repeatedly finds varieties of potatoes wrongly named. A mistake such as this, 

 although a bad one, is undoubtedly difficult to avoid. However, when a red variety 

 is called a Green Mountain, or a flat-shoped potato is called an Irish Cobbler and 

 this is often the case then the mistake is a serious one. 



Varieties of potatoes may be classed according to colour and shape of tubers, 

 maturity, colour of sprouts, depth of eyes, and colour of flowers. The most perfect 

 classification is one that will consider all these factors. Many classifications have 

 been given from time to time, but none have filled a long-felt want so well, both 

 in Canada and the United States, as Professor Win. Stuart's classification. His 

 classification of the main groups is based on the colour and shape of tubers; and 

 the sections, on colour, shape, and size of tubers, depth of eyes, colour of sprouts, 

 and the colour of the flowers. 



The writer firmly believes that if growers would at least try to place their 

 varieties in the right group it would be a great help to themselves and to the potato 

 industry in general. The classification of varieties into groups is undoubtedly the 

 first step towards an intelligent study of varieties. 



The classification which is given in this bulletin is the one drawn up by Fr<>; 

 Wm. Stuart, Potato Expert, United States Department of Agriculture. The main 

 groups, together with a short description of the tubers, sprouts, and flowers, are 

 given, also the varieties belonging to each group. Many popular varieties grown in 

 Canada may have been omitted, but with such a classification as this to serve as a 

 guide it should be possible to take any variety and place it in its right group. 

 The practical advantage of this classification will be readily seen on a close study 

 of the following groups : 



GROUP 1 COBBLER. 



Tubers: Roundish; skin, creamy white. 



