The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1858-02-10
From The American Farmer.


From the American Farmer.
HOG FEEDING AND THE SWEET POTATO
CULTURE IN N. G.
Our North Carolina friends are not behind
their neighbors of Virginia and Maryland in
the article Of good hams. We are indebted to
one of them for the following information as
TO their peculiar method of fattening pork
upon the field pea and the sweet potato. We
regret to hear, at the same time, that this
year very severe drought extending from
the Goth September, has shortened these
crops very materially.
The crop of sweet potatoes is planted
alongside OF the peas, and successive portions
are fenced off and consumed without waste
upon the ground. They turn their hogs upon
the peas when sufficiently ripe, but only
those which are TO be iattened. 1t is dang
erous to put stock hogs upon them, as they
cause weakness OF the lpins, which is fire.
quently fatal to them during the following
season. There is more danger Of this result
on sandy than on other soils. We mentioned
these facts in our last as stated by Mr.. Rufiin,
at meeting Of farmers in Virginia, and they
are confirmed by several North Carolina
farmers, whom We have talked with since.
Some farmers commence feeding on the peas
and potatoes at the same time-others feed a
week or two on peas before they begin with
the potatoes. They are fed in this way until
towards Christmas, when they are finished
of for a week or two upon corn.
We are indebted to the same friend for the
method Of cultiyating the sweet potato, a crop
which he saws we'll managed will WELD three
hundred bushels to the acre.
Five bushels of small potatoes are required
to ensure abundant paintings for an acre.
These are bedded as early in the season as
the weather will permit, in the following
manner. Raise the beds--which should be
not over six feet in width-some inches by
throwing surface earth upon it, and mix in
good compost Of stable manure, Lay down
the potatoes upon this bed, side by side, and
close enough to touch, and cover them with
three or four inches Of compost, and several
inches Of earth upon that. In due time there
will be abundant paintings. This method is
considered much better than the old plan Of
planting pieces of the potato.
When the plants are fit to be drawn out,
the ground having been well prepared is laid
oft in burrows three and half feet apart.
Well made compost Of stable manure, yard
scrapRgs, &C., is thrown into the drill, and
burrows thrown over il from each side, max
Ing ridge, the top Of which is then leyellcd
of with the hoe. The holes in which the
plants are to be inserted are made fifteen
inches apart for this purpose pointed stick
is used, near the end Of which, through an
auger hole, piece fifteen inches long Is in
serted at right angles, which answers the
purpose both of regulating the depth Of the
hole to be made aud Of marking, by the i'm
preston Of the cross piece on the ground, the
distance Of the next hole. 4 little practice
renders hand expert in thus marking the
ground. The plants are dropped according
10 the marks, and another hand follows TO
plant them. The young plants are kept clear
ofgrass by the hoe, and between the rows as
soon as the grass starts, the bar side Of the
plough Is run a. near as possible, throwing
the earth away from the ridge; in the next
working il is thrown back, leaving the ridge
about what il was in the beginning. During
this working, the vines are laid along the
ridges by hand. 70 avoid their being covered,
and returned after the work il done. II is
important that grass be kept from about the
plants BY careful working during the early
season Of their growth.
/ When the crop is not consumed upon the
ground. il is harvested by chopping the vine
Of AZ the surface with the hoe, aud running
the bar Of the plough as near as it may be
done without cutting or bruising them, on
each side Of the potatoes, when they may be
easily drawn out.
They are preserved in cellars, or out Of
doors in kilns. The method of fixing them i
to roise the ground few inches, where they
are 70 be placed. and cover with pine skaters
to the depth Of six inches or more. The po-
tatoes are laid upon these and piled in the
usual way, as many as iiIty or sixty bushels.
These are then covered with thick covering
oi pine skaters, boards laid upon them, and
earth 10 the depth Of six inches, to be increas.
cd when cnld wpathpr cOnps on.