The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-05-31
From the Southern Cullivator.
I'ERc SsT Tcct H00datOe---its
Culture and Frescrv:a-
ai0Ia.

""eSS'S -cuttoTSS 'eVlnS ~ 10 be
o duty we all owessne another to re
late onr experience in the cultivation.
successfully, of any or all plants, and
having been a reader Of your paper
now for several years, thereby giving
us much valued instruction, for which
we are truly grateful, and desiring to
afford our mite in the production rf a
valuable root which has been very
succcssful'in our hands, and may induce
others to follow the example, 10 their
benefit and not to be tedious, We will
state that our object in this article, is
tho production, cultivation ard safe
keeping Of Sweet Potatoes of the YAM
variety, both yellow and red, being
the experience of nearly twenty years.
(having at all times an abundance Tor
my own family and seed to sell;) my
| potatoes never rot.
In the first place. as early as Fcbru-
| ary as the season will admit, or by the
first of March ut furthe>t, spade out
trench, say four feet wide. % feet long
and twelve inches deep, then fill the
trench with good, sound cotton seed,
which prefer or fresh stable manure.
we'll iorked, SO that the long may be
equally distributed with the short, wet
it very freely with water, or let it re-
main few days ifrhere be prospect of
rain when the ground becomes sufii
cientiy dry 10 DC worked, cover the
cotton seed or manure with we'll puI.
verizod earth to the depth of S or 6
inches, rake smoothly and evenly, and
then carefully lay downoyour seed 80
4afs not to touch each other; when the
bed j; III! {this, size will bed ten bush
! eis) cover theersaties to the depth Of
I inches, rakesutoo,h and cover the
seed ab0nt3 inches deep. hoe
Ae carth'all round the bed and pack
she spate, (this keeps in the heat J
Whef2t'e weather gets warm and sci.
tied, remove, the co, ON seed from the.
top or:he bed and rake slightly; this
gives Il tine, smooth surfac- ISorethe
sprouts to come through. Your bed
will soon be covered with sprouts
growing very !ayuriantly. You can
hasten and greatly improve the pro
duc.ivcncss of the bed fyou will keep
it wet with soaP-suds. (thc refuse Of
the washtnb) always puring it on the
bed at sundown, (no other time. j.
This makes the best hot bed for DO
tatocs have ever used.
AS early as the ground will admit.
p'ow the piece you desigs. FIR potatoes
very close and deep, u !scep it rcgu-
tarly plowed, alternately every two
weeks. When your slips in the bed
are well grown, lay ofl,hc ground with
q turning plow, ridge over the furrows.
as high as the plow will throw; then
pull your slips from the bed and Sc,
them out on the top of the ridge very
deep, and press Oh each side of the
plant, always promising that your
ground is broken up very deep
and free from clod and in good tilth
before ridging up to plant, and moi
rdgIng up the ground in dry weather,
but when the earth is moist. prefer
setting plants out in the evening late,
when the earth is moist. than after
rain, and watering few evenings
q half ten cup of water will be suhi
ccnt for plant. Set your plants out
Is inches apart in the ridge. Always
make your ridges so that they will
hold the water, and not run off.
Now for The cultivation-in about
two weeks you must plow down your
ridges, leaving only a sutliciency of
dirt to support the plant. Plow deep
and thoroughly with bull tongue,
then follow Immediately with your
Carey Or turning plow and throw the
DIRT up to the plant and finish your
ridge as a first this must be done
every week as long as the vines will
admit--and very frequently break
the vines, in order that deep. loose
soil may be had for the formation of
roots. This is all the cultivation ne.
ccssary--a hoe is not needed.
When the frost kills the leaves, I
proceed to dig, using the plow, the
bull.tongue, breaking down the ridge
on each side, and then, with one deep
turrow, piowing ont the roots. gath.
er IN baskets, say bushcl at a time,
and carry to q open shcd--being cares
iu not to bruisc or break the royi;s..c
first the largest and soundest, AID then
the smallest for seed, and dastly, the
broken ones pour dowf on tho the
ground, under the. SIZED, in separate
piles Of about 80 bushels; when you
are done, cover with straw, each pile
separately, and then cover, complete.
ly, with dry dirt q foot thick, and all is
over. Your potato IS will keep as long
rs you want them, perfectly sound.
Use the broken potatoes first, com.
mcncIng at the top of the pile. By
putting only 80 bushels in heap YOU
will be better enabled to consume
them before injury can take place from
exposure to air and light. You must
have good shed open to the south
and inclined to the north. This is
my method after, 20 years experience !;
always have sound potatoes, aid