Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-06-28
VIRTUES OF THE SWEET
POTATOE.
From Col. J. F. IL. Claiborne's
"IriD MYOuph fhe P;Uo,, ,,ooJe -

1rtP W'ongh the PtHcy acOods,"
OF MISSISSIPPI.
In answer to our eaoe,
shout female Voice that sounded mos
benignantly, babe US eight" We
walked in, drenched and dripping and
found ourselves at the residence Of ar
aged widow, who with four daughters
and three sons, had lived there many
years, their nearest neighbor being
twelve miles off. They owned large
stock Of cattle, and the three 6ogs las
the good mother called her sons, who
were tall enough for Prussian grena-
diers) were then absent with a drove.
Finding ourselves welcome, we strip
ped our horse, and led him to a small
trough filled with potatoes, and the rack
with hay made Of the dried vines. Our
horse ate them with great relish. On
this farm, as on most Of the others in
the same locality, few acres are cow
pened and planted in corn, for bread;
an acre or two for rice; BUT the main
crop is the s,cce: potato. Some nations
boast Of their palm tree, which sup
plies them with food, oil, light, fuel,
shelter and clothing-but it will be seen,
that we have In the potato, a staple ar
ticIe, scarcely inferior to it. 1t will
grow upon soils too thin to produce
corn, and with little culture. 1t may
be converted into valuable manure.
For forage, it is excellent. Hogs and
cows thrive Upon it exceedingly. An
acre properly cultivated, will yield
from three to five hundred bushels. Its
farinaceous properties, make it almost
equal to bread, and it supplies some Of
the most delicious dishes for the des-
sert.
Supper was somewhat tardy; but in
an adjoining house, lit up by brisk
fire, we heard sundry "notes of prepa-
ration" 1t was a rare chance that
brought guest to that lone dwelling,
and its kind inmates we're intent on
making US comfortable. LulIed by
the cheerful signs and savory odors,
we cast ourselves into an armchair
and dozed, untilat length gentle touch
and a musical voice, summoned US to
the table. The repast was abundant,
excellent and scrupulously neat-but
almost every dish was composed Of
potatoes, dressed in many various ways.
There were baked potatoes and fried
potatoes-bscon and potatoes boiled
logether-a fine loin of beefwas flank
ed round with potatoes, nicely brown
ed, and swimming in gravy. A hash
Of wild turkey was garnished with po-
tatoes mixed up with it. A roast fowl
was stuffed with potatoes; beside us,
s.ooda plate ofpotatoe biscuit, as light
as sponge; the coffee which was strong
and well favored, was made ofpota-
toes, and one Of the girls drew from a
corner cupboard, rich potatoe pie
In about an hour a charming little
blue-eyed girl, brought US tumbler
of potato beer, that sparkled like cham
payne, and rather archIy intimated THAT
there were some hot potatoes in the
ashes, if we felt like eating one. The
beer was admirable, and,we were told
that good whiskey, molasses and vine
gar, were sometimes made of potatoes.
AT length we turned in. The little
chamber we were shown 10, was the
perfection of neatness. The floor was
sprinkled over with white sand. A
small mirror stood on the wall, from
which was suspended sort of napkin,
tasliIy worked all over. Above was
rosary of bird eggs of every color,and
over the window, and pinned along
the white curtains of the bed, were
wreaths Of flowers, now dry indeed
but retaining their beautiful tints and
making really very pretty ornament.
An old oaken chest, highly polished
and waxed, set in a corner and over
that range of shelves stored with
quilts, comforts, coyerlids, Of many
colors, the work Of the industrious
household. The pillows were bor-
dered with fringed network and the
sheets as white as the untrod snow;
butthe bed itself.though soft and pleas
ant, was made Of potato rines. Either
from our fatigue our late and hearty
supper, or from our Imagination being
somewhat excited, we rested badly;
the nightmare brooded over US; we
dreamed that we had turned into a big
potato, and that some one was digging
as up. Perspiring, struggling, we
clenched the bed and finally leaped up,
gasping fur breath. 1t was sometime
before the horrid idea would Cult US.
In the. morning, owing to the drench-
ing of the previous day, we were an
invalid, and threatened with fever and
sore-throat. The kind old lady insis-
ted On our remaining in bed, and she
Immediately bound mashed roasted
potato, just from the ashes, moistened
with warm vinegar, 10 our neck, and
gave US profuseiy a hot tea, made OF
potato vines. These applications ac-
ted like charm, and with the .additio /
of a few simples from the wood: were
all the remedial agents ever used BY
| this hanny family, They could scarce.