OHAPTEE VI 



VARIETIES 



The question of varieties is largely a local problem 

 depending on special conditions and on the require- 

 ments of the market served. Considerable confusion 

 exists both in this country and in the insular possessions 

 with reference to varietal characteristics. This' is due 

 in a large part to the fact that the sweet potato is sub- 

 ject to sudden mutation or the appearance of sports 

 giving rise to many new varieties, which may or may 

 not continue in existence. Often even the name for 

 well-knovm varieties is extremely local, varying for the 

 same variety in different sections. Many growers have 

 undertaken the improvement of some standard variety 

 and after a few years' selection have given it an entirely 

 new name. These influences combined have given rise 

 to a vast number of varieties, many times differing 

 from some other only in the local adoption of a par- 

 ticular name. For instance, the Pumpkin yam, the 

 Georgia Split-Leaf and the East Texas yam are identical 

 but are sold from the different sections under the various 

 names. In Porto Eico a great many varieties are found 

 but only the Mamey varieties, namely the Mameyona 

 or large Mamey and the Mameyita or sm.all Mamey, 

 and also the Blanca or white, are known by the same 

 name all over the island. 



Several tentative classifications for varieties have 

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