The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-03-13

g. lho sonth Carollnlan.

( tAelSIOtt " tNIitC'tu'
Jlclsyar.l'e, H. NOV. ISIS.
---,s &c.
From the South Carolnian.
ULTINATIO or THE SW EFT
POTATO.
Messns SuMrrn & CAEEoti.
Gcntiemea ! comply with your request
and accordingly proceed 10 answer your
queries upon the cultivation Of the Sweet
Potato" In doing So | ouy give you my
own practice. Doubtless, il nay coa'aln
some errors; tu, being derived from cxpe-
rence Of many years, | am inclined 10 re.
commend il, as generally correct
shall answer the queries IL The order
in which they present themselves.
Qgery.-Whai do you consider The best
81, for The sweet potato!
Anager.- Both roots ard SLIPS do best on
high end yellow soil. Slips, however, will
do well on moderately low land, well drain
ed SO as not 10 be injured by two much
water. when planted on land Of the latter
description, have generally found, that
slips do not keep as vel nor are they as
sweet and meAly as when planted on high
lands. New land, it the leaves upon II be
well rotted, viii answer well for either
roots or Slips care, however, should be Ia
ken TO tutn the dccayod leaves, Oh new
land intended or roots Unless this lie Oh.
served, the excessive beat Of the leaves On.
dergolug Fermentation, IN the summer, val
burn up the potatoes.
QueIy.-ilow do you prepare your land
and at ~ba; time
Answer-The system Of preparing land
for sweet potatoes by movable cow-pens,
consider tie very best. II saves time 10
carting out mauuIe-n.oTe equally mpafts
the manure TO the soil end Yields greater
return than any other mode Of potato culH-
yaion have ever pEactised, You should
commence running your COW pen, Just eary
enough, 10 allow you time to 90 over your
land, by tine you are prepared for plant.
} ing, This being done, the land vii be
found hard and compact. Mark il CT into
lines FIVE feet apart, so as 10 give twenty
one beds to the task. Run two farroW 5
with the daeon plough down each line, and
you will thus render the soil loose and mel.
.ow; and you may now, bed UP, 20 as 70
finish ly the ooh oil March. at Which tine
the seed sAaa'd tc sowa, aol more than SIX
inches apart. lie most expeditions mode
q sowing SEED, is 10 dtIll tie top OF tue
beds viih the hoe, md haul the dirt ever
the seed ash the cover boards.
|, YOU have neglected 10 run the COW pen
' over the land, manure well with either Of
5 tie uanurcs shall mention; and list or
! cover Immediately as spread out and pro
coed to bedding as directed above.
! Q1sry.-What is The best kind Of ma
cure for sweet potatoes
Answer.-l have SAID IN my last answer,
that consider running the COW pen over
the land, the very best kind Of manure.
When this has not been done, compost,
cotton seed. rul!ed trash aud pond mud, arc
excellent, hen properly applied.
The great principle in applying these
mauures Is, 10 cover them well, end give
them proper time to rot in the land before
planting.
Cot,on-sced, 5ppIiel 10 the proportion Of
to bushels to the bed, and covered over
in lime 10 decompose, before planting, i.
i good for either sips or roots.
Sail mud, aud even fresh mud, contain
ing vegetable matter, are equally good
when applied in proportion Of ono or iwc
D loads 10 the led or task row. When mud
IS used, if soft, il should be spread out, So
] as to leave no lumps, and when day it
should be well puIyerzad or chopped Up
hae The mud Is best upon high aud drv
soil; but Il also does well upon other soils
a. the maturer Of the roots.
Ro,ted mash or trash, are also excellent,
VIXEN applied III proper quantities.
Oats, rye, or any o'her green crop
J ploughed or listed in, viii act powerfully Us
manure upon potatoes. The siube Of oats,
after the summers gathering, has been
l tried with success.
Q1ery.--Ilo8 is t r potato crop ,rorted
after planting
Answer.-As soon as the potatoes are
up, | proceed to take cot all the grss.
and weeds, carefully picking the tops OF tho
y beds 90 as not 10 disturb tie roots of the
young plants by pulling them out. A. soon
= as the plants begin to pat forth vines, tho
. grass and weeds, if there be any, should be
:. again picked, and the dirt should now be
brought Up to the pDaufs. II this work is
i we'll done, there Is TO necessity Of aoy
; after working. The Use Of the hoe at this
period, frequently does more injury than
b service.
a Query.-Wha, are the variaus kinds O
sweet potatoes which the mos! productive
g aud which keeps the besl7
= Auswcr.-Ihe various kinds Of potatoc,
! have planted are the Vans or Spanish
D Leather coats, Birthstone with red anl
white skins, Rods with white hearts.
The lams On Spanish potatoes, do wei
> IA land highly nanured. They produce
Q largely, but do not come very early. They
D are the best potatoes to keep. The Leath
0 er coats, very much resemble the Vans
p md differ from them only II sz, and fla
your-beiDg large aud more meaIy Il
other respects, the same observations apply
70 'heuo potatoes, as have made upot