MARKETING SOUTHERN-GROWN SWEET POTATOES 
Growers located near factories ordinarily prefer to sell to them 
rather than ship to distant markets. Little handling and expense are 
involved. Bulk-loaded wagons, trucks, or box ear- are generally 
used in delivering the crop, strict grading is not required, and cash 
is paid on delivery. Most southern canners prefer to buy the firmer 
southern varieties, as all moist, sugary varieties become soft when 
cooked and stored. 
THE ANNUAL LOSS. 
The estimate of the amount of the 1920 southern crop not utilized 
was one-fourth of the production. This mean- that the quantity 
of southern sweet potatoes lost od account of freezing, disei 
and other causes is larger than the total production in New Jere 
Delaware. Maryland, and Virginia. Although a Loss of 25 per cent 
of the crop is large, this figure is believed to be below normal, partly 
because of unusual conditions during the 1920-21 season and partly 
because of improved storage facilities. 
SOUTHERN COMMERCIAL VARIETIES. 
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUTHERN VARIETIES. 
The principal commercial varieties of southern sweet potatoes are 
the Porto Rico. Nancy Hall. Triumph, and Dooley. The first two of 
these make up over 90 per cent of the car-lot shipments. The 
Triumph, which is shipped from a small district in southern Alabama 
at the beginning of the season, is medium-moist to dry. fairly sweet. 
and firm in texture. The other varieties, which constitute the main 
southern crop, are very sweet, moist, and soft in texture when 
cooked. It is these very sweet, moist-fleshed varieties that are re- 
ferred to on the principal markets as southern sweet potatoes as 
distinguished from the dry. mealy varieties of the Jersey group. 
They are sometimes called ■'yams."' a term used to indicate their 
characteristics and southern origin, although the name is applied 
properly only to a distinct cla<s of plants which are almost unknown 
in the United States. 4 
PREFERENCES IN PRODUCING STATES. 
From 90 to 99 per cent of the car-lot shipments from Georgia, 
South Carolina. Louisiana, and Texas are the Porto Rico. From 
90 to 95 per cent of the car-lot shipments from Tennessee. Arkansas, 
and Oklahoma are the Xancy Hall. In Alabama the principal com- 
mercial varieties are. in the order named. Triumph. Porto Rico, and 
Xancy Hall. Mississippi ships the Porto Rico and Xancy Hall in 
about equal quantities. In Florida the Porto Pico predominates, 
and in Xorth Carolina the principal southern varieties shipped are the 
Porto Rico, Xancy Hall, and Southern Queen, known locally as Hay- 
man. The largest production of the Dooley i> in Louisiana. Of 
the total car-lot movement of southern sweet potatoes it is estimated 
that 57 per cent is the Porto Rico variety. 35 per cent Nancy Hall. 
5 per cent Triumph, and 3 per cent other varieties. 
4 Varietur are classified and describe! in United States Department of Agriculture Bulletin 1021: 
Group Classification and Varietal Descripti rican \ i II. C. 
Thompson and James II. Beattie. 1922. 
