54 The Potato 



Uniformity. — Exhibit should be uniform in all phys- 

 ical characteristics. 



Blemishes and disease. — Should be no evidence of 

 blight, rot, grubs, rhizoctonia, sunburn, or injury from 

 rough handling. 



Shape. — Should be typical of the variety. Market 

 demands a moderately oval-flat or roimd-flat shape. 



Size. — Should be typical of the variety. Market 

 demands a medium-sized potato. 



Quality of flesh. — Should be true of the variety. 

 Market requires a fine-textured flesh of light color, free 

 from excess moisture and from hollow or dark spots. 



Depth and frequency of eyes. — Should be typical of the 

 variety. Market demands few and shallow eyes. 



Color and texture of skin. — Should be typical of the 

 variety. Market demands a thin, smooth skin. White- 

 skinned varieties are preferable in most markets. 



POSSIBILITIES OF IMPROVING THE POTATO 



Even though the potato has been in cultivation for 

 centuries, further improvement is by no means impos- 

 sible. It responds very quickly to breeding. Most 

 varieties are very impure and contain various tjrpes. 

 The first task of the breeder is to become thoroughly 

 acquainted with his plants so as to discard the poor 

 plants and save the good ones for future planting. If 

 this is done for a few years, the average yield of the 

 crop and its uniformity will be greatly benefited. 



The hill selection of potatoes is not generally practiced 

 and as a consequence the varieties soon deteriorate and run 

 out. This deterioration could be easily prevented by pay- 

 ing careful attention to planting seed from the best hills. 



