The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1867-04-19

PLANTs.-If but a small patch IS to be
raised, plants are best obtained of chose
who furnish them for sale. They can be
grown as follows: Early in April, depend
ing upon the latitude, put the potatoes in
hot bed if of large size, split them in
halves lengthwaYs, laying the flat side
down, SO near together as almost to touch /;
cover with about two inches of fine rich
mold, the richer the better. When the
plants push above the ground, add an inch
or more Of soil Water with warm water
occasionally I; protect the bed nights, and
give air and sunshine pleasant days to
make them hardy. When wanted to set,
uncover the potato, and pull off the best
slips, and recover, to Jet the small ones
improve.
Son AND PLAETIxe.-A warm. sandy
loan, with good exposure to the sun, is
best adapted to the culture. Mark the
rows, which should run north and sou tn,
81 feet apart, by mere scratch on the
surface on these marks spread literally
good barn manure then turn the earth
from each way over :he manure with pillow
or shovel, according to the size of the
patch, and form ridge eight or ten inches
high, the base of which should not be dis
turbed by the operation, and should be a
foot wide; the top when finished, three or
four inches wide, on which to set the plants.
AS soon as danger of frosts are passed,
the plants should be set Is to IS inches
apart in the rows. Set the plants down 20
the first leaf, pressing the soil close to the
root its whole length Moist weather is
best for setting but set in the after part of
the day, we'll watered and shaded, they
will do nearly or quite as well.
A close hard bottom is necessary to in
duce the tubers to grow chubby; for this
purpose they are often grown by laying
strips of sod along the bottom of the
ridges, aud placing the manure on this
Manure does not iniure the sweet potato,
like the Irish but to produce abundantly,
the more used, the better the crop. After
culture consists IN keeping down the weeds
with the hoe and rake, hauling the soil up
wards toward the plants. Lift the vines,
and keep them on top ofthe ridge. seve-
raj times during the season, to prevent their
roofing at the joints, aud to admit the warm
rays Of the sun to the ground.
GATuERNe.-In August you can run
the finger down beside the vine, and when
a large tuber is felt sever it from the stem,
remove it, and replace the dirt, leaving the
others to grow, After the frosts have kill
ed the vines, select the fist clear, dry day,
and turn them out with fork, frst cutting
the vines with a seythe Dig in the fore
noon, and let them lie till the middle of the
afternoon, when they will be dry, if fully
exposed on the ridges. Pick them up,
handling carefully. not to bruise. For pre-
serving for winter, provide suitable boxes
or barrels, take them into the fsld. and
have a quantity Of straw cut fine. Pack
your potatoes as carefully as you would
eggs, using frst layer of straw aud then
q layer of potatoes, aud thus alternately
ill the box or barrel is full, finishing with
straw. Remove the packages to a dry eel
lar or room. where there will be no frost
and will be kept dry and warm. II placed
ia a cellar they must be raised from the
bottom on boards, aud kept away from the
wall. Keeping aoarm and dry are absolute
essentials for preservation.