CULTIVATION OF THE TRUE YAMS. 11 
not do well in very light sandy soils, but in hammock lands and in 
properly drained muck lands single tubers up to about 12 pounds 
have been produced. This is not a good market yam, but it finds a 
ready sale when the yam market is unsupplied with the more pop- 
ular sorts. 
S. P. I. NO. 46801. 
This yam was obtained by the Department of Agriculture in 1918 
from Charles T. Simpson, of Littleriver, Fla., on whose place it had 
been growing for many years. Its previous history is unknown. The 
vine is usually somewhat obscurely 4-angled and wingless and is 
tougher than the vines of either of the preceding varieties. The 
leaves of all three are practically identical in form. The vine of Xo. 
46801 often bears aerial tubers rather freely in the axils of the leaves, 
especially when the vines lie on the ground. 
The underground tubers are white fleshed, and although not so 
fine grained as those of many varieties they are of good flavor ; they 
are drier than those of most other varieties, analysis showing a con- 
tent of 23 per cent of starch and 3 per cent of protein. In appear- 
ance the tubers are rather rough (PI. V, Fig. 2) and often ill shaped 
and when dug are covered with fibrous roots. The variety does well 
on hammock land and on drained muck. On the former type of 
land single tubers have reached a weight of 21 pounds and on the 
latter 15 pounds in the first season's trials. Tubers of this variety 
which are of reasonably good shape find ready sale on the market. 
An unlabeled collection of named varieties of the greater yam 
THREE YAMS FROM TRINIDAD. 
was received in 1918 from Trinidad. It included such varieties as 
Lisbon, Hunt, Bottle-Xecked Lisbon, and Antigua "White. Three of 
the varieties — the names of which can not as yet be determined — have 
been separated, and as thev have proved to be of excellent quality 
they are being propagated and disseminated under S. P. I. Xos. 
47263. 49825. and 54983. respectively. The vine and leaf characters 
of these varieties are not readily distinguishable. The tfines are 
4-angled and somewhat indistinctly winged. The leaves are long 
heart-shaped, as in the preceding varieties. Aerial tubers are rarely 
produced. Brief descriptions of the underground tubers of these 
three yams follow : 
8. P. I. No. 47263.— This yam is white fleshed, becoming slightly grayish when 
cooked. It is mealy, moderately dry, and rich in flavor. Tubers up to 7 
pounds in weight have been produced on hammock land in central Florida. 
Former importers of yams from the West Indies speak highly of this yam for 
market purposes. 
8. P. I. No. 49825. — A yam of excellent quality, the flesh of which remains 
perfectly white when cooked. The tubers grown in Florida thus far have 
been rather small, but this is believed to be due to unfavorable circumstances 
which can be avoided. On account of the whiteness of this yam when cooked 
and of its high quality it will be a favorite wherever known. 
8. P. I. Vo. 549S3. — The tubers of this variety as raised in Florida are club 
shaped to cylindrical. Thus far the weight of individual tubers lias not much 
exceeded a pound, but improved cultural conditions will doubtless increase this 
weight very materially. The flesh of the cooked tuber is perfectly white, mealy. 
and of very delicate flavor. 
S. P. I. NO. 53475. 
This yam was obtained from J. B. Brown, of Sebring. Fla.. who 
brought it from Panama about 1914. The vine is 4-angled and dis- 
