130 The Sweet Potato 



PiEESON. — This kind resembles quite closely the Eed 

 Bermuda described below. The roots are light yellow, 

 well shaped, but often very much crooked and rough, 

 with light yellow flesh. The Pierson comes early and 

 finds some sale on the extra early markets. It is not a 

 heavy yielder. Johnson describes the vine growth as 

 follows : " Stem single, long, branching rather thick, 

 white below surface, bright reddish to purplish above 

 surface of ground. Leaf auriculate, very sharply 

 pointed; margins entire; upper surface of leaf is dull 

 green with purplish pink near edge ; lower surface gray 

 green; veins prominent, medium size; petioles slender, 

 rather long, light green, with purplish tints." 



PoLO'. — This is medium to large in size, very smooth, 

 the roots rather round and the skin and flesh white. 

 The vine growth is luxuriant. 



PoETO Kico. — Growers throughout southern 

 Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi and in northeast 

 Texas have in recent years become enthusiastic over the 

 possibilities of the Porto Eico potato. It is said al- 

 ways to give a good yield on almost any soil, although 

 some growers claim it does not thrive on new ground. 

 It not only yields well but is a fair keeper, ships well 

 and is good as soon as dug. This variety, though not 

 as widely known as the Nancy Hall and the ISTanse- 

 mond, is very rapidly becoming popular on the big 

 markets. The Porto Eico, however, seems to be very 

 susceptible to attacks from the sweet potato root-borer 

 or sweet potato weevil. The potatoes are medium large, 

 rounded, regular, deep salmon skin, very rich salmon 

 flesh, sweet and juicy and in the South are considered 

 very choice for baking. (See Plate IV.) 



