The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-04-11
Agricultural.

ASIACUxtltEStIs
On the Cultivation of Irish and SaDeet
Potatoes.-Having been successful for
the last fre years in raising good crops Of
Irish and sweet potatoes, ! have conclud.
ed to accompany the subscription money
with short description of the mode Of cul-
ture, &C., Of those roots; which, ifyou
think it will be Of any benefit to potatoe
growers, you can publish in the Register.
The ground preferred for Irish potatoes,
and such as have experimental on. has
been slubble, grass, or, old field which for
many years have been uncultivated and
considered too poor without manuring) to
Ply for working it. Early in the winter,
or as soon after Christmas as possible, the
ground, is broken with.a two.horse plough;
the first Of march it is again plougbed into
three.feet beds with a small No. 2 Free
born plough; a deep furrov is then opened
on the beds, which being nearly filled
with manure taken from the compost of
leaves, virgin mould, or swamp mud, and
small quantity of barnyard manure, the
seed is deposited 8 or 10 inches apart,
takisg cara TO select good seed, and leav-
ing from 2 to 3 eyes on each piece :; after
the dropping is completed they are cove
red by running furrow on each side with
the same plough; as soon as they come
up and get 4 or S inches high, they are
again ploughed, and with the hoe careful.
ly ridged' down." leaving the top bod
out. Nothing more is done to them until
we commence digging, which is generally
about the 18th Of May.
Many Of my neighbors say this prepa-
ring compost manure is too much trouble.
Blu. permit me to say to those who have
never tried the experiment, that the pota-
toes grown in this kind of manure, are SO
much superior in quality, they will never
regret the trouble. ! do not recollect of
ever seeing single potatoe with black
ball in The middle Of it, which we too well
know is often the destruction of whole
crops raised in stable manure.
The sweet potatoe l have generally
planted ON; the same kind Of soil, which I
prefer having broken MP in the fall. The
lst of May the ground is again ploughed,
forming lands by throwing S or 6 burrows
together, and with the hoe we form ridge
or hill from ls to "a inches in height.
The last spring tried an experiment with
manure, frou, the drift thrown on the shore
by the storm of 1888. The lands were
opened by running deep furrow, with
large plough, the river grass and drifts
we're paced in small piles two and half
feet apart, and over which hill Of earth
was drawn. When ready for planting,
a deep hole was opened in the top Of the
hill, and two good pieces Of the paintings
placed in it., taking care to separate the
seed 2 or 3 inches in the hill. If heavy
banking rain should fall on the hills be-
fore the earth becomes settled on the top
of the bill, we draw a small rake across
the top, which breaks the clods and ad-
mi,s the tender bud to make its appear
ance. Before adopting this plan, had
been often disappointed in my potatoes
not coming up. The manure was put in
every other row, and if l had no. bes'
present this fall, when they were dug fro.
the ground, could not have believed til
same quantity and quality Of manure cOu''
have made such difference | think tn
quantity was nearly double from the ma
nured row over those having none; and
aa,ter myself the next crop Of corn on