Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-04-14
Cultivation and Preservation OF
the Sweet POTATO.

in value 10 that of the Sweet Pota.
20. l,s Advantages over corn are
very great, In the first place, tho
product of IN acre may he made six
times ms large ~ was ever hurvest-
ed from the same amount Of high
land planted in corn, In the see.
ond place, the Potato crop will
grow through tho whole lougth of
our long summcrS, and will not be
lost by Il droulh Of u month, oc.
curing nj any time after the crop
il fairly growing. A corn crop,
however fourishing, may he ruined
for want Of rain, at particular
period Of It's growth. As food, three
bushels Of Potatoes, may be c0nsid.
cred ms equal 20 ono Of corn, Most
persons are aware that horned cat.
lie, swine, mules and poultry, arc
fond Of Potatoes, and thrive well
when iod on them. Few, however,
know that they are excellent food
for horses, whom c05ktd. Mr Thorn
as Legarc, Of Charleston, (than
whom there was not 2 better master,
or Judge Of horses in South Carroll.
na,) fed his animals constantly on
boiled Potatoes. They wcro always
tat, and their Cats fine.
We shall not claim in the follow
ing essay, TO detail the best and
most successful mode Of cultivating
and preserving the Sweet Potato"
We propose TO present to our read
crs, as briefly rs possible, tho result
Of our own practice and experience.
We have seen ten varieties Of this
root in cultivation, and one which
We never expect to sec again. 1t
was produced among others, after
many experiments from seeds, gath
cred from the capsules of the Yam
Potato, and was lost during our alb
sence from home last summer. The
"Rod Potato" commonly known as
the cred White" OF "Bormuda," is
tho earliest variety, and good
bearer. II prodEces better than
other varieties. from small potatoes,
planted whole orcut. We have had
them fine, without the use of NAH
nre, or any artificial means Of has
tcning their growth, on the 25th
day Of June. They arc Of u dark
pink, or purple, on the outside, and
white within. The vines are small
and green, and che leaves have pink
veins on the under side. They do
not keep as we'll rs some other va
rieties. We think this Potato is
identical with the famous "Nanse-
mond Potato" Of Virginia. The
"Mexican Potato" asst il called by
many, is another variety Of the
Red" 1t is of recent introduction
into our country. The first We ever
Jaw were carried from Alabama to
South Carolina, about ten years
ago. This is q very coarse Potato,
with thick skin. 1t is great
bearer and keeps well. The vines
are ucry large. and arc purple. This
variety is only fit for hogs, An
other variety of tho "Red," is call
cd the "Brimstonc." 1t is red with
out. and about the color Of Brim-
atone when cooked. 1t is dry, n
fair bearer, but does not keep well.
The CYAN" is fine variety of the
Potato--the best known for all pur-
poses, and the most extensively cul-
tivatcd. 1t is nearly Of Il nankoen
color, grows to be fine size, bears
well, keeps we'll, and eats well.
Properly baked, after it has dried,
it is, with butter, equal TO South
ern pudding and far superior to
Northern one Tho "Pumpkin
YAM" or yellow YAM" rs it is
called by many, is similar to tho
foregoing, except that it is the color
of a Pumpkin within, when cooked,
and not unlike that vegetable in
taste. The Spanish Potato" is
another well known variety, 1t ia
long, Of n greenish brown color
without, is crooked and irregular on
tho surface, resembling crooked
stick of ARROW Root" The pulp
divides itself into fakes, when it is
broken--it is dry. and when season
ed. becomes very sweet. 1trequircs
rich land to produce well. The
pumpkin Spanish" is very much
like the orc just described, except
that it looks and tastes like Pump
knit is q prodigious bearer. The
Leather Coat" is very much like
the Yam-is not 20. yellow nor so
sweet, and has q thicker skin. The
Poplar Root" resembles The "Leath-
eli Coat" but is much fher. 1t
bears and keeps well, and has q
long smooth root-whencc lis name.
The "White" is formed like the
"Yam." 1t is white within and
without, is tasteless and worthless.
We have heard of another variety
of the white" which is much
praised, but have not seen it. We
confre ourselves TO tiro Of the above
list-to the Bermuda" or "Red
for an early variety. and to
the Yam for all other purposes.
Potatoes may be propagated in
different ways. First, by planting
whole or cut tubers. Secondly, by
putting out the young sprouts when
they appear, and planting them
like Cabbage plants, after rain.
Third, by laying the vines down,
and covering them with earth, leav.
ing openings Of few inches be-
tween the piles Of earth, TO allow
the vines to grow. Fourth, by cut
ting the vines into short pieces, and |
them into the ground.