Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-04-06

Mr.. w. w. Rathbone, of Marietta, o.,
gives his experience in the cultivation of
the sweet potato lie prefers the Yellow
Nansemond, which is Of the same variety
as the Mississippi Yellow, a favorite po-
tato in this section He says he has
grown one hundred and sixty -two and
half bushels Of the Yellow NansemOnd per
acre without manure, on a side hill, the
same land having failed in corn and
Irish potatoes. OF soil and preparation,
Mr.. Rathbone says:
Sandy and grayelly soils are generally
selected, and many think other soils will
not answer. have not a rod Of sandy
soil, and grow fifteen acres per annum. NV
soil is mellow, if properly lreated-very
aloddy, if mismanaged by blowing when
wet
have produced good crops OF red clay
land, and raise annually several acres on
yellow loam Where the soil is poorest,
with a very hard sub-soil, the Nansemonds
grow Of a rounded form, while in the
richer, deeper and mellower soil they are
more elongated. There is many a field
laid by as too poor for corn or wheat, or,
~ many would say, good only for beans,
that would produce excellent sweet po-
tatoes, with but a slight dressing Of well
rotted manure, and leached or unleached
ashes On no other crop does manure tell
10 plainly. The sweet potato is we'll adapt
ed 10 thin soils, especially as il is not an
exhaustive cop. ! have known il 10 be
raised for ten years on the same plot Of
land, showing no diminution Of yield
The coating of vines seems 10 add more to
the soil than il extracted by the potatoes.
Co rich soils too much vine is produced at
the expense OF the roots.
BY saving none but the largest potatoes
for planting, notice constant increase
in the Weld per acre. As for City wears
the small and refuse potatoes have been
saved Cor seed, the wonder is that the crop
can be raised at all.
A Southern aspect is best, yet any other
will answer. ! always prefer rolling land
and in many years experience in planting
side hills, entirely dissent from the prac-
iice almost universally recommended by
writers, viz: make the ridges run paral-
lei to the hill TO avoid washing" 1t is
nonsense 10 try 10 dam up the quantity Of
water that falls in our summer showers
Ny experience with the sweet potatoe
proves il best 10 get rid Of lli surface lodter as
sooa a. possible Therefore, run the ridges
from top 20 bottom of all inclinations, in
order that each ditch may carry il own
water, and the quantity will never be suft-
cient 20 do much damage.
In very light soils, especially if sandy,
ridges are by many preferred 10 hills, but
ON loamy and clayey soil make hills 10y all
means. 1 prefer them in all cases, because
Won are certain Of a good crop; the sun
reaching all sides Of the Hill, ripens the po-
tatoes sooner; more Bushels Of large po-
tatoes can be had and early in the spring
The large tubers can easily be found, by the
bursiing Of she hills, and grabbed which,
IL done by first cutting the potato lSose
before pulling. Is positive beniti; 10 those
remaining. ] have thus passed over
crop three times before digging, and finally
taken out large potatoes on the 10th Of
October that we're very small on the 10Th
OF September.
Many VIA attempt sweet potato growing
make great ridges, two and a hall OF three
feet broad at the base; and some hatien
them on the top, fearing drought Better
throw away the plants at once than place
Them In or on such mass Of earth.