56 Eicliard Frotscher^s Almanac and Garden Manual 



amongst a lot of Jackson Whites sent out here from New York, 

 there were one hundred barrels of Peerless Potatoes. Merchants 

 are not very particular in regard to name, and they were sold for 

 Goodrich, Jackson Whites, or anything else they resembled. 

 They are well known now, and tlie kind mostly planted. I brought 

 out six years ago the Extra Early Vermont, Brownell's Beauty, 

 and Compton's Surprise The latter variety I have discarded ; 

 it is not salable on account of its purplish color. Five years ago 

 the Snowiiake was the sensation. 



After another years trial I have discarded the Brownell's 

 Beauty. It is of very good quality, productive, but not salable 

 in the market on account of its color, which resembles the Eusset, 

 one of the most common potatoes received here from the West. 

 I have had six other new varieties under trial, but did not find 

 anything to justify the high i^rice asked for them for our section. 

 The Alpha is a fine white early kind, but not productive. Euby 

 and other varieties are pinkish, which always is an objection for 

 this market. These fancy prices for new potatoes do not pay 

 here, as we can keep none over for seed, and any person raising 

 for the market would not realize a cent more for a new fancy vari- 

 ety per barrel, than for a barrel of good Peerless or Early Eose. 

 Earliness is no consideration, as we plant from December to end 

 of March. Somebody may plant Early Eose in December and 

 another in February, and those planted in February come to 

 the market first ; depends entirely upon the season. If late frosts 

 set in, early planted potatoes will be cut down, and those just com- 

 ing out of the ground will not be hurt. The Jackson White has giv- 

 en but little satisfaction this and last year, except in cases where 

 planted very early. The yield was very good, but the quality 

 poor and very knotty. Perhaps this was the fault of the season. 

 It is hardly planted any more for the market. Up to now the 

 Peerless is the standard variety. Among the new kinds I have 

 tiied, I find the White Elephant to be a fine potato. It is a very 

 strong grower, tubers oblong, very productive, good quality and 

 flavor. It is late and will come in at the end of the season if 

 planted with the earlier varieties. So far the price has been loo 

 high, but expect this year to have some to sell. 



Early Kose. This is, without any doubt, the best potato 

 for the ta'ble. It is oval, very shallow-eyed, pink-skinned, very 

 dry and mealy when boiled. It has not Ijecome as popular as it 

 deserves as a market variety, as pink or red potatoes do not sell 

 so well here as the white kinds. This variety should not be 

 l^lanted too soon, from the fact that they make small stalks, and 

 if cut down by frost, they suffer more than other varieties. Xo 

 better potato for family use. Every one who plants ought to 

 plant some of this variety, but they want rich, light soil to grow 

 to perfection. 



Jackson ^liite. This is a very popular kind here in Xew 

 Orleans, and before the Peerless was introduced it was the lead- 

 ing potato. It is not quite so early as the Peerless. It is white, 

 has a great many eyes, and is of very good quality. When grown 

 here it gets smoother than when produced in the East. It keeps 



