American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-05-10
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The Culture5of Sweet Potatoes.
] recently nolce frequent inquiries on Z :
the culture Of the sweet potato. Having I"
had some little experience in this branch
Of horticulture. win state the moteand
the results. T,
SopRCE OF SEED.--Tbis | always pro-
cure from the city Of New York.tu which
ii is. ] suppose. in all cases. brought from
further south. sometimes send directly
there for it. aud at other times procure it
here from grocers who have recently pro-
cured it for retail here. Potatoes raised
here are always too imperfectly mature 10
be preserved; they perish with a dry rot
even when stored in small quantities III dry |
sand, and in cool and airy place.
Soul have cultivated them in light
sand, a sandy loan, both Of moderate fer
tility, andin amoist rich sand. | prefer
the former. because il securesa slower
growth and results in the earlier formation
Z. Of tubers, and Of course in more perfect
maturity than either the others.
MopE oF GRowTH. The vine and leaf
somewhat resemble bean trailing over the
ground. Perhaps it still more resembles
wild buckwbea!, though its leaf is larger
and a yellower green. The vines of,en
make eight feet in length ina rich and
moist soil, though usually four feet is as
long as is desirable. In rich soil and moist
weather they frequently throw down roots
at intervals along the vines, which produce
tubersat these points, and SO tlll the whole
soil with tubers This, however, is not
desirable, as these scattering lubers are
usually very impelfcctly ripencd. The
tubers almost always stand up lcngthwise
in the soil, instead Of lying horizontally, as
in the case ofthc common potato
PREpAKToaY CULTURE IN THE HoT BED.
Having procured your seed tubers, bury
them in an ordinary lot-bed, about the
Goth Of April IN Central New York. Place
them lengthwise, and nearly end TO end, in
rows across the bed, the rows about six
inches apart, covering them about three
inches deep with soil. In two or three
weeks, according to the heat Of the bed ,
each tuber will throw up from five TO thirty
sprouts close tothe side Of the parent AS
soon as these are three or four inches high,
take up the tuber carefully and break them
off close to the parent, 50 as to save the
side roots. The tubers may then be re.
placed for the production of a second and
even thid crop ofsprouts. Some prefer
breaking them off inthe ground, but Ihay,
always found 1t sale To take the tubers quit,
out Of the ground for this purposes. Thi
method Of procuring plants is practlset
even in the southern States, since other
wise too many shoots would be produced
With us this mode becomes further indis
pensible as the only means Of getting on
plants sufficiently early.
MODE OF CULTURE IN THE FIELD. .--Ploy
your ground, and throw it into ridges fv
or six feet apart. This is needful--frs
because yourtuber, needing to spread side
ways, will form more, readily than whe
penetrating deep into the soil; ;--and seG
ondly, they will thus be less likely to form
roots along the vine. Set the plants on tn
ridge. about fifteen inches apart, inserting
them in the soil Just as though they wer
tomato or cabbage plants. Should th
weather be hot, coyerthe newly set plant
with any large leaves, as Of pie-plant, balm
of Gilead DC. Hoe frequently until tn
vines cover the soil, but without ncreasin;
the hight Of the ridge In wet aud ho
weather. it he useful Slighdyto Ill
up the plants witha long. smooth pole, t
prevent them from roofing.
ava nor nhs.rrad tl,at tha awaaf pnIn
to is not liable to disease, otherwise than
as tropical plant, it fears cold and rain,
alterations ofweather.
DlGoINo, YiEGr, MopE OF PREsERvIN,
&c.--Dig as soon MS the vines are killed b,
the frost, Spread the tubers thinly on
dry, cool floor. where !hey may be pre-
served for gradual use until mid.winter.
am not prepared TO speak very posi-
lively Of the yield, Undoubtedly It vii
usually be less than that Of ordinary po
tatoes. In the hot. moist season Of 1851
however, the yield was very large and th
whole cost Of production not more tha
that of ordinary potatoes by the bushcl
QcAufY. Here, after all, is the failin
point ofthis crop. Ina dry, warm season
when grown in rather poor. sandy sol
they are often quite eatable, and are yer
acceptable to those not accustomed 10 thos
produced at the south, Often, however
they are quite watery aud strngy-s
. much ss to be utterly uueatable to all wb
have ever used good article. For til
reason would not advise their culture
far north as Central New York; not
least until you strike the shores of Il
western lakes, where tho summer is fro
two TO four weeks longer, aud allows h
plant proportionally longer period
mature its tubers
have written the preceding direction
not to encourage their culture, but toa
those who are determined to try that Gu
ture for themselves. Some Of my dire
tons will seem quite unnecessary TO tlio
familiar with their cultare.--C. h. Goo
rich, IN Horticaliarist
Every day well spent, lessons the Ia
that God has sent us.
Our greatest glory isnot in never ia
ing. but in rising every time we fall.
Brave actions are the substance
l:r aIa.a s4 t,ti .