Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-06-04
FARMER AND PLANTER.
THE SWEET POTATO.
An Improvement In Nonaeneistare Much TO
BE- Desired.


The nomenclature of the sweet potato
Is miserable and altogether unreliable.
One variety is often known by many
different names.
The Nanscmond, q yellow potato of
medium size, and very smooth, is the
favorite In the northern market Its
meat Is rather firm and dry; there are
many other varieties decidedly superior
to it in quality. This variety is known
In tine north as the Jersey Sweet, and
largely known in New Jersey, Mary
land and Virginia. In the south it is
known as the Mississippi Yellow, or
Mississippi Yellow Yam. The leaf is
small and entire, some being heart
shaped and some slightly shouldered;
the foliage is slight and light green In
color.
In the south every forlScd-leaf, yell
low potato is known as the yellow
yam. This class, though generally
small yielders, possesses superior eat
ing qualities, and the name is the syn
onym of excellence. There are five or
six varieties, some being dry and sweet
and others soft and sweet The varie-
ty of this cless which possesses the
highest eating qualities has rather
long root of medium size, and veined;
It's skin is little rough and rich VEL
low; the flesh is rich yellow with
streaks of orange. In quality it is de-
cidedly above any other sweet potato.
Its soft, juicy sweetness, when once
tasted, can never be forgotten. The
yam is partial in it's growth, requir-
ing sandy clay loan of good fertility.
The Queen is the favorite in the
south-the home of the sweet potato
and is the best all-purpose sweet pota-
TO grown. Some varieties may possess
better eating qualities, some may be a
little earlier or a little more produc-
tive, and others may be more attrac-
tive in appearance, but no other one
variety combines SO many good quail
ties. 1t is early, prolific. of excellent
quality. fine keeper and shipper,
good selling potato, and suited to any
soil. Truckers like it because it yields
well, keeps well, and grows well in
any soil; marketmen and grocerymen
like it because it will bear rough han
ding and also please customers; whole
sale men and commission merchants
like 1t because it ships well. Any
sweet potato will stand shipment bet
ter If put on cars direct from the cellar.
The Strasburg, most probably sport
from the Bermuda, is the favorite for
early use in the Nashville market. 1t
Is a variety not widely known. 1t be-
longs to class of sweet potatoes which
are individual in their habits of
growth Roots of this class terminate
quickly and produce many slips, are
large, short, surface usually ridged
deeply, and Of inferior quality. This
class however. are early and produc
tive, and every grower of sweet pota
toes should have few for early use
The Red Jersey, about the same as the
Bermuda and Pea body in every respect,
and the Early Golden belong to this
class. The Strasburg and Early Golden
so much resemble that they should be
called one and the same. Every dis
tinction should have difference
This class is also suited to any soil.
The Niger Choker q call it this be-
cause it is the name by which it is
most widely known) is variously
known as Orleans Red. Louisiana Red,
Shaker Red, Red Yam, Black Yam,
Mexican Yam, and perhaps by other
names. The name Niger Choler is
also sometimes given to the Bermuda,
and the name Red Yam is also given to
another variety which has a pale red
skin and a deep yellow flesh. The Mig
ger ChOker, as here listed, has a pur-
pie vine, the potato is long and irregu-
lar in shape, skin aniline, flesh snow
white, and is dry, mealy and sweet.
1t takes the name yam perhaps from
it's divided leaf. The leaf is not divided
as is that of the yam; it's center lobe is
long, and that the two small lobes at
its base on either side might be called
shoulders to this main lobe. This va
riety is grown from Kentucky to the
gulf, and possesses individual charac-
teristics. 1t is slow to terminate, and
is therefore good variety for late
spring. While IFS range of adaptable
ity to different soils is large, the va
riety decidedly lras it's preference. 1t
uoCo NV lofC pun ooii, NhiSh ID ALL
material with many varieties.
The Shanghai. or California, is SINH
lar to the Queen in habits of growth
and general appearance. Its keeping
and eating qualities are good, and it
decidedly stands at the head of the list
as producer. Twill remark here that
the soil and size of the root has much
to do with the quality Of any variety
the sweet potato. 1t is an excellent
variety for stock.
The Bunch Tor Vineless) Yam is a
variety of late introduction, and the
biggest novelty among sweet potatoes.
1t belongs to the yam family, as it's
name indicates. 1t is also partial to
certain soils, yields about like other
vans, and is only moderate in quality.
Being upright in growth, with very
short vines, it c4n be cultivated like
the Irish potato. Remember, though,
farmers, that 1t will not keep down
the grass and wecls as other varieties.
The Bunch Yam stands drought we'll;
its vines can be easily moved for hay,
and its keeping qualities are good.
Considering the novelty of the variety
and some good qualities it has, agri-
culturists should give it trial.
The varieties of the sweet potato are
marked and many, though there are not
nearly SO many varieties as names
The Louisiana state experiment sta
ton, at Baton Rouge, gives thirty-six
different varieties. Many of these have
not a marked difference. Climate and