St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1895-07-20
FARMER AND PLANTER,
THE SWEET POTATO.


THE SWEET POTATO.
Al improvement In Nomenclature Much u
he Desired.
The nomenclature Of the sweet potato
is miserable and altogether unreliable
One variety is often known by many
different names.
The Nansemond. . 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 1t in quality. This variety is known
in the north as the Jersey Sweet, and
largely known in New Jersey. Mary
land and Virginia In the south it is
known rs 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 forked-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 class which possesses the
highest eating qualities has q rather
long root of medium size, and veined;
Its 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 its 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 .
little earlier or little more produc-
tive, and others may be more attrsc-
tive in appearance, but no other one
variety combines SO many good quail
ties 1t is carly, 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 it because it ships well. Any
sweet potato will stand shipment bet
ter it put on cars direct from the cellar.
The Strssburg, most probably sport
from the Bermuda, is the favorite for
early use in the Nashville market. 1t
is . variety not widely known. 1t be-
longs to . class of sweet potatoes which
are individual in their habits of
growth. Roots Of this class germinate
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 Is the
Bermuda and Peabody 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 a difference.
This class is also suited to any soil.
The Niger Choker Il 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
nameA The name Nigger Choker is
also sometimes given to the Bermuda,
and the name Red Yam is also given to
another variety which has . pale red
skin and = deep yellow flesh. The Mig
ger Choker, as here listed, has . 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
its divided leaf. The leaf is not divided
IS is that of the yam; its 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 il slow to germinate, and |
is therefore = good variety for late |
spring. While its range of adaptabi |
ity to different soils is large, the va
riety decidedly has its preference. It
does not love = POOR soil, which is i'm
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
stands st the head Of the list
Is . producer. Twill remark here that
the soil and size of the root has much
to do with the quality of any variety
variety for stock.
Tho Bunch Tor Vineless) Yam Is
variety Of late Introduction, and the
biggest novelty among sweet potatoes
Il belongs to the yam family, - its
name indicates 1t is also partial to
certain soils, yields about like other
yams, and is only moderate in quality.
Being upright ip growth. with very
short vines, it csu be cultivated like
The Irish potato. Remember, though,
farmers, that It will mot keep down
The grass and weeds - other varieties.
The Bunch Yam stands drought we'll;
It's vines can be essily moved for hay,
md its keeping qualities are good.
the novelty of the variety
Ind some good qualities it has, agri-
:ulturists should give it , trial.
The varieties Of the sweet potato are
marked and many, though there are not
nearly so many varieties rs names.
rho Louisiana state experiment sta
ion, at Baton Rouge, gives thirty-six
lifEerent varieties Many Of these have
,ot q marked difference. Climate and
;oil have much to do with varieties. A
:areful comparison and discrimination
would greatly reduce the number.
Varieties differ II ON each other in
shape, size and color Of the leaves aud
'oots, color and nature of vine and
oliagc. eating and Ikeeping qualities
# the roots, and Eroductiveness and
lsbits Of growing. The average farm
Y makes his discrimination in the
hspe and color Of leaves and the eat
ng qualities Of the potatoes I have
,->sau%>d .hnvn su~h varinkiAR aS I