The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-06-09
SWEET POTATO CULTURE.


The soil for this crop should be Of a
warm, sandy or gravelly naiurc--rich.
deep and mellow, rather dry than moist.
We have known many failures Of late,
from attempting 10 grow this crop on
clayey, or moist soils. Except in very
dry or warm seasons, the crop is sure to
suffer by an oyergrow,h Of vines, with
watery tubers, on such lands.
Preparation Of the soil is Of much im-
portance, especially if not already deep
and mellow. Let it be plowed early
and thoroughly pulverzed, adding some
well>rotted manure, if not in good heat
bu; heavy munuripg is not advisable.
About the las, Of May, or during the first
half Of June, when The sprouts or plants
are nearly ready, plow The ground into
ridees, four fee, apart, and IL to Is in
ches high, or if preferred, into squares or
hills feet apart each way, the centers
foot OF more in height, TO be finished
of with hoe.
The mode OF planting described by
one of our core spOnden!s several years
ago, is as we can give :-"Take gar
den trowel, stick or any suitable arts
Gle convenient, and form trench in the
top of your ridge, 10 the depth desired,
say four inches, where the sprouts are
planted, then place the sprouts in the
trench the desired distance apart, at the
same time filling the trench about half
full Of earth around the plants, gently
pressing it 10 prevent them from falling;
then pour wafer in the trencb(I use well
waleD until The earth is completely sat-
urated, then FIJI the trench loosely with
dry earth around the plants, and the
work is done.
"Thc philosophy of the matter appears
TO be this: the water settles the earth a.
round the roots Of the plants, affordins
them noutishment and the filling of the
trench with dry earth, the Top Of the wa>
Ter prevents evaporation, retaining it at
the roots Of the plants where needed,
and prevents the earth from baking a.
round them, matter Of much Importance
10 their welfare"
Another successful grower Of sweet
potatoes describes his mode Of planting
and after culture as follows: "Put two
plants in hill; if tho 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 water. Set the
plant half its length in the ground; do
not wait for rain in order 10 plant. If
tho weather 10 dry, plant ,he,n in the
evening and put pint Of water in each
hill, the water should be as warm as
rainwater. 1t is better to plant in a dry
time than when the ground is too wei,
for when the ground becomes dry it will
bake and retard the growth of the plant.
The plant may be planted in ridges, and
when they are thus planted, put them
ten inches apart. AT the frs. blowing,
scrapo the weeds and grass from the
hills and draw up but little dirt tho first
time you work them, for the hills will
warm through better when small. Hill
them up the last OF July or the first Of
August. IL the vines have grown across
the furrows turn them 10 the opposite
side of the hill, hoe the side lef, bare,
then turn them back. Never wind the
vines upon the top Of the hill,rt will pre-
vent the sun from warming ii as much
as it requires to the full growth Of The
slant rLo ,,;,oe cLoulj mt bo ont nff
if they grow very rank. Pull them loose
from the hill and drop them down agaia;
this is TO prevep, the little sprouts from
growing and encumbering the hill With a
load o! stringy potatoes.
Plant early and dig before the first frost
II the vines are frosted the po,atos be.
come waiery and will not keep any length
of time Ohio Cultivator.