Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-06-30
Agrifultur.
tFrcm the Ohio cultivmorJ
CULTURE OF SWEET POTATOES.

CULTUNE OF SWEET POTATOEssf
lf Mr.. H. SsanAy, Of Circleville, is the most
Successfdl cutivator of sweet potatoes within
Ssr knowledge he also succeeds perfectly
In preserving them through the winter for
sSsd this spring, and proposes, also, to sell
plants to all WHO may desire them, in this re-
Kion of Ohio. Ba'. np
The following are his directions for growing
and preserving sweet potatoes e.If
DIRECTIONS FOR SPRouTING. Put up boards
odgswise, like box. Fiji in fresh stable
manure, Is inches deep. On this lay three
inches Of good light black mould; and or this
lay your potatoes so close as almost 10 touch.
Cover them with the same kind of mould two
and half inches deep. Keep the bed quite
vet whise the potatoes are sproutins. When
the paat is six inches long, place you thumb
and finger on the potato, and pull the plant,
but be careful not 10 disturb the potato. Keep
them well covered while sprouting, and be
careful to replace all the dirt removed from
the potato when pulling the plants Water
your bed night and morning while sprouting
Be careful not to let your bed get too hot, or
the potatoes may scald. Try the heat Of the
bed by feeling below the potato: if too hot,
cool It by watering more freely.
DIRECTIONS FOR KEEpING.-You may keep
them through the winter in boxes of one
bushel each, by covering them with dry sand
and keeping them in cellar where the
temperature must be kept TO near summer
heat; if it falls below this point they will
not keep; and any one can keep them at this
point.
DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING AND RAISING
Put two plants in the hill if the hill is small
one is better than two. Set them four inches
apart, and make the hill little hollow, SO as
to hold pint of wafer. Set the plant half
its length in the gronnd do not wait for rain
in order 10 plant. If the weather is dry, plant
them in the evening and pint of water in
each hill the water should be as warm as
rain water. 1t is better 10 plant in dry time
than when the ground is too wet, for when
the ground becomes dry it will bake and re-
tard the growth of the plant. The plant may
be planted in ridges, and when they are thus
planted, put them ten iuchcs apart, At the
first plowing, scrape the weeds and grass
from the hills and draw up but little dirt the
first time you work them, for the mills will
warm through better when small. Hill them
up the last of July or the first of August. If
the vines have grown across the furrows turn
them to the opposite side of the hill, hoe the
the side left bare, then turn them back. Never
wind the vines upon the top of the hill, il
will prevent the sun from warming it as much
as it requires to the full growth of the plant.
The vines should not be cut off if they grow
very rank. Pull them loose from the hill and
drop them down again; this is to prevent the
little sprouts from growing and encumberinq
the hill with load Of stringy potatoes.
Any quality of soil that will produce good
corn will produce good sweet potatoes.
The plants will be ready for delivery; and
may be planted any time between the tenth
OF May and the first of July.
Plant early and dig before the first frost
If the vines are frosted the potato becomes
watery and will not keep any length of time.
Circleville, o.