Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-04-05
0Nortester 1ailp Spp.

The SWEET PoTATo AT THE NoRTH.-
There are thousands in the Northern States
who would be glad to raise this luxurious es-
culent for their own table, had they the evil
dence that it could be done, and without an
unreasonable expense. They have generally
supposed that its culture must be confined to
the warm climate and long seasons of the
South. There is its home but by being grad
ualy acclimated it has finally found its way
into the approaching hands and grounds of the
Northerner During the past two or three
years the efforts to introduce it into New York
and New England, as well as the northwestern
States, have been decidedly progressive. The
results of these experiments have generally
been quite atisfactory-fattering to the exper-
imenters. Many are now so well satisfied with
the successful culture of the sweet potato
among them, that they are contemplating
growing them on a more extended scale in
future, for marketing.
The sweet potato, as now cultivated in New
Jersey, Northern Virginia, Ohio, &C., is quite
different from those OF the Carolinas, Indies,
&C., being accimated to the Northern climate.
The variety which has proved the best adapted
to the North is called the "Nansemond," from
the county in Virginia whence it was taken to
New Jersey, &c. The Southern or Carolina
tubers are unfit for the North for seed; even at
Cincinnati they are never tried but once.
The Nansemond has the quality of being
good for table use at any period of its growth
popularity. We believe this variety to be
superior to others for the North, in every re-
spect. Persons who have tried this with Others
have invariably given their opinion in its favor
as far as we have known, and we have some
knowledge of the matter.
We saw this variety growing finely the past
season, in Vermont, lat A degrees of latitude)
and ate of them the fore part of September
The subject was very satisfactory. The same
individual had grown them there for several
years, procuring seed and plants from South
ern Ohio.
The sweet potato is propogated by placing
the timbers in hot beds during the month of
April, with three inches of loose rich soil over
them. The plants are pulled from the timbers
about the time the first leaves have attained
full size, which takes three or four weeks gen.
erally-more or less time, according to the
condition of the beds and weather.
This mode of starting them is necessary on
account of our growing season being so much
shorter than that of its nativity. The ground
for them is prepared into hills or ridges, 1--WE
prefer the latter for general culture made
high and narrow, SO that they may receive the
suns warmth. The plant throws out a num-
Der of runners, which often cover the ground
with the growth, and produce beautiful sight.
PERSONS at the North Will md 1t better to pro-
cure plants from points where this potato ma
lures, except when planting largely. They
can be packed by those experienced to go to
almost any point in the Northern States where
railroads and expresses will carry them-the
charge generally comparatively small.
Northerners, try this luxury Success and
qualification will be the result. Any soil that
will produce corn well, except that which is
too rich in vegetable mould, will produce sweet
potatoes the latter soil causes an excessive
growth of vines without forming tubers in pro-
portion, in our short seasons. Use animal ma
nure in preference to vegetable-ashes are
good.-COunt'y Gentleman.
In addition to the above, we may add that
the sweet potato delights in warm, light, fri
able soil, and that those which bring the high
est price of any that come to market are raised
on the warm sandy plains of South Jersey and
Delaware. Those who have lands of that char
acter, if they ridge up well, and put their sets
or seed out in good season, may safely calcu-
late on reasonable success; but if they have
only moist or heavy land they had better ex-
pertinent with some other crop.-Spy.