16 BULLETIX 27, PORTO RICO EXPERIMENT STATION/. 
4-ounce seed roots. Plantings of roots that were cut into halves each 
piece weighing 4 ounces, gave as high a yield as whole roots having 
the same weight : while the yield from the upper and the lower halves 
was practically the same. 
This variety yields about the same as the Potato variety. It keeps 
well after being removed from the ground, has first-class table quali- 
ties, and contains 22.32 per cent starch. In all localities it should be 
thoroughly tested. 
P. J. Wester, 3 in writing of the value of the above-described 
variety, states : 
There are several well-recognized varieties distinguished by the prevalence 
and size of subterranean spines, and by the size, form, and quality of the 
tubers, some being large, others small, smooth, or partly covered with hairy 
roots, dry and mealy to soggy, sweet, or devoid of sugar. * * * In quality 
the best varieties outrank all other crops in the Philippines and the yield is 
very satisfactory. 
PURPLE CEYLON. 
This yam, so called because of the purple color of its flesh, was 
imported in 1908 from Ceylon for the experiment station, and, on 
account of its pleasing flavor, has become a favorite variety. Its 
distribution has been exceedingly slow, owing to its popularity as an 
edible. Seldom more than the crown of the root is left for planting, 
and as a result succeeding plantings have not increased. It should 
be propagated on a larger scale and an effort should be made to ex- 
tend its planting to localities where it is not yet known. The parts 
of the root for planting need not be confined to the crown. Any part 
may be utilized with the assurance that it will yield a profitable 
crop. The crown need not be planted entire, but may be divided into 
two, four, or even six pieces. This may be done by cutting through 
the rootstock and leaving a growing point on each section. At the 
experiment station f-pound seed pieces cut from the lower part of 
the root produced an average of nearly 5 pounds per plant. This 
is a splendid weight for a root of the Purple Ceylon variety, and cor- 
responds with that produced by equal-sized pieces of the basal or 
upper part of the root. In cases where the upper part was divided 
into one-fourth pound pieces and a section of the rootstock was left 
on each piece the average yield was slightly less than 5 pounds per 
plant. Seldom, if ever, has any seed root failed to produce a plant 
at the station when soil and weather conditions were favorable. 
When the rootstock or sections are planted the vine makes a gain of 
several days' growth over shoots which sprout from cuts taken from 
the lower part of the root. However, they do not continue to grow 
over a longer period, for the latter remain green some days after the 
former have wilted and dried. 
3 Philippine Agr. Rev., (1916), No. 3, p. 194. 
