Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-05-18
Culture Of Sweet PntatOeS,

Mr.. II. Stanley, Of Circleve, is The most
successful cuIllvalor of sweet potatoes within
our knowledge; he Olso succeeds perfectly in
preserving them through the winter for Seed
He has sold large quantities of seed this spring,
aud proposes. also, TO sell plants to all who may
desire them. in this region of Ohio.
The following are his directions for growing
and preserving sweet potatoes:
DlRECTI.Fs FOR SPROuTING.-Put up boards
edgewise, like box. Fill in fresh stable ma
nure, eighteen inches deep. On this lay three
inches Of good light black mould; and on this
lay your potatoes, so close as almost to touch.
Cover them with the same kind of mould two
and half inches deep. Keep the bed quite wet
while the potatoes are sproutng. When the
plant is six inches long. place your thumb and
finger on the potato, and pull the plant, bul be
careful not to disturb The potato. Keep them
well covered while sprouling, and be careful to
replace all The dirt removed from the potato
when pulling the plants. WaIer your bed night
aud morning while sproulinC. Be careful moi
to let your bed get too hot, or the potatoes may
scald. Try the hea, of the bed by feeling be-
low the poialo, il too hot, cool il by watering
more freely.
DlREcTIoNs FOR KEEPING. You may keep
them through the winter in boxes of one bushel
each. BY covering them with dry sand, and keep.
ing them in u cellar where The Temperature must
be kept TO near summer heat; if II falls below
this point they will not keep; and any one cau
keep them III this point.
DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING AND RAISING Put
Two plants in hill; if the bill is small one is
better than two. Set them four inches apart,
and make the hill liille hollow, SO as to hold
u pint of water. Sci The plant half its length
in the ground; do not wait for rain in order TO
plant. If the weather is dry. plant them in the
evening and put pint Of water in each hill, the
water should be as warm as rain water, Ii is
better TO plant in dIy time than when the
ground is 100 wet, for when the ground becomes
dry il will bake and re,ard the growth of the
plant. They may be planted in ridges, and
when they are thus planted, put them len inches
apart. AtIhe first plowing, scape The weeds
aud grass from the hills and draw up but little
dirt The first time you work them, for the hills
will warm through better when small. Hill
them up the last Of July orlhe first of August.
lf the vines have grown across the lurrows turn
them TO the opposite side of the hill, hoe the
side left bare, then turn them back. Never wind
the vines upon the top Of The bill, it will preven,
The sun from warming it as much as i. requires
10 the full growth of the plant. The vines
should moi be cut Off ( they grow very rank
Pull them loose from the hill and drop Them
down again, this is 10 prevent the Iiule spruu,:
from growing and encumbering The hill with d
load Of slringy potatoes.
Any quality Of soil that will produce gooC
corn will produce good swee. potatoes.
The plants will be ready for delivery; ant
may be planted any time between the tenth o.
May and The first Of July.
Plant carly and dig before the first frost. L
the vincsare frosted the potatoes become watery
and will not keep any length of time.
Circleville, o. H. STANLEY.
Ohio Cuitivator.