6 BULLETIN 116, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGKICULTUEE. 



bud-eye cluster (Pis. II and III). Skin smooth and of a light, creamy white color. 

 Sprouts short and rather stubby, varying in color at the base from a very faint red- 

 dish violet or magenta to a perceptible coloration; the tips and leaf scales are usually 

 tinged with the same color. Occasionally the color seems to be almost, if not entirely, 

 absent. 



The following varieties belong to this group and are, to all intents 

 and purposes, identical: 



Early Dixie. 

 Early Eureka. 

 Early Petoskey. 

 Early Standard. 

 Early Vicktor. 



2.— TRIUMPH GROUP. 



Extra-Early Eureka (PI. I, fig. 2). 



Flourball. 



Irish Cobbler (PI. I, fig. 1; Pis. II 



and III). 

 Potentate. 



The Triumph group is composed of a few very early varieties hav- 

 ing roundish tubers and a dwarf habit of growth. Only one member 

 of this group, the Triumph, can be regarded as having any consider- 

 able commercial importance. Both the Triumph and the Quick 

 Lunch potatoes are illustrated in Plate IV. 



Description. — Ripens very early, but the yield is usually low. Vines dwarfed and 

 fairly compact, not much branched. Stems short, stocky, dark green. Leaves medium 

 large and dark gi-een. Flowers purple or rose-lilac. Tubers round with blunt to 

 obtuse ends, slightly to distinctly shouldered (PL IV, fig. 1). Eyes medium in num- 

 ber and depth; bud-eye cluster generally deeply set. Skin creamy white, occasion- 

 ally with pink eyes or splashes (as in the "White Triumph), with few or many splashes 

 of crimson (as in the Quick Lunch and Noroton Beauty), or solid red, or occasionally 

 splashed with carmine (as in the Triumph). Flesh a creamy white. Sprouts have 

 base, leaf scales, and tips more or less deeply diffused with reddish Adolet. 



The varieties which seem to belong to this group are the following: 



Honeoye Rose.' 



Noroton Beauty. 



Quick Lunch (PL IV, fig. 1). 



Triumph (Bliss's) (PL IV, fig. 2). 

 ■V^Tiite Triumph. 



3.— EARLY MICHIGAN GROUP. 



This group has been provided for the purpose of accommodating 

 certain early white-skinned varieties which, owing to their habit of 

 growth, color of flowers, and color and shape of tubers, could not 

 be included in any of the other groups. Thus far the study which has 

 been given to the possible members of this group has been insufficient 

 to permit a description which would fairly represent them. Plato 

 V shows three typical Early Michigan potatoes. 



Description. — Matures early. Vines of medium size, resembling those of the Early 

 Ohio group. Flowers white. Tubers oblong-flattened to elongate-flattened or ovoid. 

 Eyes numerous. Skin white or creamy white or, in the case of the Early Albino, 

 occasionally suffused with pink around the bud-eye cluster. Sprouts light rose- 

 purple at the base, with the scales and tips creamy white or tinged with light rose- 

 purple. 



1 The first three varieties are considered Identical. 



