BULLKTIX 1206, r. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
PREFERENCES IN CONSUMING MARKETS. 
In the markets of the South the Porto Rico is the most popular 
variety. In other sections of the United States the Nancy Hall 
is the best known and most popular of the southern varieties. In 
the eastern markets "north of Virginia and east of Ohio" the dry- 
fleshed Jersey stock is desired, and there is no decided preference 
for any one southern variety. In the central or northern markets — 
north of Tennessee and east of the Mississippi River — the Nancy 
Hall is the most popular southern variety. Jersey type stock is pre- 
ferred, hut the preference is not so positive as it is in the Bast. West 
of the Mississippi River the Nancy Hall is the favorite, but prefer- 
ences arc 4 not so firmly established as in other sections. 
In certain markets in all of these groups of States exceptions occur; 
for instance, in sections that prefer the Nancy Hall there 4 are cities 
that pay higher prices for the Porto Rico. The Porto Rico has 
gained rapidly in popularity since 1919, especially in tin 4 western 
markets and to some extent in the East. Existence of market prefer- 
ences and the fact that they may be changed within a comparatively 
short time through advertising, changed standards of quality, and 
other conditions, are factors that vitally affect distribution, sales 
policies, and shipping-point practices. Table 1 shows the answers 
of 27!) representative dealers to the question: What variety of 
southern sweet potatoes do you prefer to handle? 
Table I. Results of a questionnaire sent to •>•/'.' sweet-potato dealers in the principal 
markets of SI Stairs. 1921. 
Question 
Eastern 
markets 
(76 
dealers 
re- 
porting. 
What variety of Southern sweet potato d< 
you prefer to handle'.' 
Nancy Hall 
Porto Rico 
Other varieties l 
What style of container do you prefer? 
Barrel 
Bushel crate 
Bushel hamper 
Bushel basket 
5-peck crate 
Sacks 
Bulk shipment 
Can you use sweet potatoes over 3V inches 
in diameter and 10 inches in length? 
Yea 
No 
Limited quantity 
Central Western Southern 
markets markets markets 
(87 (79 
dealers dealers dealers 
re- re- re- 
porting), porting.) porting). 
10 
Total 
( 279 
dealers 
re- 
porting). 
3 
183 
40 
Percent- 
age. 
66.8 
4.7 
13.2 
40.7 
15. 
0.6 
6. 3 
3. 3 
1.3 
si.O 
17.7 
1 12 dealers stated that they di 1 not want any southern variety, but preferred stock of the Jersey type 
from New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia. 
CAR-LOT MOVEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION. 
SHIPPING SEASON. 
Alabama opens the shipping season in July with a movement of 
the Triumph variety from the southern part of the State. Two or 
three weeks later Yellow Jersey stock begins to move from the small 
district in northeastern North Carolina, which produces this variety 
for the early market. About the time the North Carolina movement 
is well under way the Eastern Shore of Virginia begins to ship the 
same variety under the mum 4 of Early Carolina, and Little-Stem 
Jersey. New Jersey follows with its Big-Stem Jersey, Red Jersey, 
and other dry-lleshed varieties. The principal movement of the 
