30 BULLETIN 1041, U. S. DEPAETMEISTT OF AGEICULTTJEE. 



apricot yellow (PI. Ill, fig. 12). Consistency of freshly dug potatoes, 

 firm to medium firm. Consistency after curing and storage, soft. Tendency 

 to darken, pronounced. Canning quality, fair. 



No. 39833. Vines vigorous, stalky, somewhat bunchy. Roots medium to very 

 large in size, elongated, irregular. Yields, medium heavy. Color of skin, 

 light buff. Color of flesh, baryta yellow. Peeling quality, good. Color of 

 cooked potato, empire yellow (PI. Ill, fig. 13). Consistency of freshly 

 dug potatoes, firm to medium firm. Consistency after curing and storage, 

 soft. Tendency to darken, very pronounced. Canning quality, fair. 



No. 49711. Vines vigorous, spreading. Roots medium to large, fusiform in 

 shape, smooth. Yields, medium heavy. Peeling quality, fair. Color of 

 skin, light buff. Color of flesh, baryta yellow. Color of cooked potato, 

 empire yellow to apricot yellow (PI. Ill, fig. 14). Consistency of freshly 

 dug potatoes, firm to medium firm. Consistency after curing and storage, 

 medium firm. Tendency to darken, pronounced. Canning quality, fair. 



SUMMARY. 



(1) In the comparative tests of the canning qualities of sweet- 

 potato varieties and strains grown at the Arlington Experimental 

 Farm the Gold Skin was awarded first place for two consecutive 

 seasons by the committee judging the quality of the product. Of the 

 other varieties the Yellow Jersey, Early Red Carolina, and Big- 

 Stem Jersey represent the best of the dry firm types; the Dooley, 

 Porto Rico, Nancy Hall, Mullihan, and Vineless Pumpkin " yam " 

 the deep-colored moist group; and the Belmont, Miles, and Yellow 

 Strasburg the lighter fleshed medium moist type. 



(2) In determining the value of any variety for canning pur- 

 poses there are many things to be considered, such as size, shape, ease 

 of peeling, and yield per acre. Several varieties that are satisfactory 

 on these points vary greatly in firmness, color, sweetness, and flavor. 

 The final choice depends upon what is desired in the finished product. 

 The Porto Rico, Dooley, and Vineless Pumpkin " Yam " are deep- 

 colored sweet varieties, but they have a tendency to become very 

 soft in storage. The Triumph, Miles, and Southern Queen are light 

 colored, but become soft to medium soft in storage. The Big-Stem 

 Jersey, Early Red Carolina, and Yellow Jersey are intermediate in 

 color and yield the firmest product of any of the varieties. Almost 

 every combination of qualities is found in some variety. 



Certain changes take place after digging which alter greatly the 

 firmness, flavor, and sweetness of the canned product. The varieties 

 differ in the degree of change in each of these characters. This be- 

 havior greatly aids in choosing the type of product that the market 

 demands. The home canner will find something desirable whatever 

 may be his particular preference. 



(3) In these tests material from each of the varieties has been 

 canned as nearly whole as possible and also after passing through a 

 food grinder in order to obtain a uniform product. The ground ma- 



