1774 
at a distance of a few feet are likely to be mistaken 
for the Irish potato. The skin is very thin and tough, 
and may, after being broken, be pulled off in strips 
resembling thin pieces of cherry bark. The interior of 
the tuber is white, brittle, and firm, and practically 
free from fiber when not allowed to remain too long 
in the soil; it is over 23 per cent starch. However, 
tubers which are left in the soil until late in the 
winter sometimes have a few long and rather strong, 
longitudinal fibers. When cooked the tubers are fine 
grained, tender, and sweeter in flavor than most other 
varieties . 
Since the small yams develop in the surface soil 
and are not_hindered by a compact subsoil, the "potato" 
variety thrives best in rich soil, and better than most 
other varieties in clays. It yields poorly in sandy 
soil, and in compact soils produces angular or flat- 
tened tubers. 
From experiments made in planting at different 
distances apart it is believed that 3 by 3 feet gives 
the best results. The variety grows well on level land 
where the drainage is good and the soil is loosened to 
a good depth, or on ridges. (Adapted from C. F. Kin- 
man in Bulletin 27, Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment 
Station, p. 13.) 
Fragaria sp. (Rosaceae) , 54976. Strawberry. From Ira- 
puato, Guanajuato, Mexico. Plants presented by Luis 
Kan, through Arthur Stockdale, Mexico City. "Irapuato 
is famous throughout Mexico for its strawberries , which 
supply the markets of Mexico City and many other towns 
of the highlands. Terry's 'Mexico' says: 'The rich 
soil of the environing country is favorable to the 
growth of strawberries (fresas) which are on sale 
throughout the year. A score or more of venders fre- 
quent the railway station and offer the berries in 
small baskets. The best berries are always carefully 
arranged on the top; the lower layers are apt to be 
small, if not decayed, 1 which shows that the Mexicans 
are not far behind their northern brethren in the mat- 
ter of preparing their wares for sale. The elevation 
of Irapuato is 5,800 feet, the climate rather cool, 
subtropical. I have not been able to learn the history 
of the Irapuato strawberry fields; probably the first 
plants were brought here by the Spaniards in relatively 
recent times, and are of European derivation. Only one 
variety seems to be grown; this is a rather small berry 
of excellent flavor. It Is introduced into the United 
