The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-04-11
Sweet Potato Culture.

Pi0hfS.--lf but q small patch Is to bt
raised, plants are best obtained of those
who furnish them for sale They can
be grown as follows: early in April,
depending upon the latitude, put the
potatoes in q hot bed; if Of large size,
split them in halves lengthways, laying
the fiat side down, so near together rs
almost to touch ; cover with about two
inches Of fine rich mold, the richer the
better. When the plants push above
grounds, add an inch or more Of soil
Water with VAIN water occasionally ;
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 tlc best slips,
and recover, to let the small ones i'm
prove.
Soil and Plaut;ng.--A warm, sandy
loan, with good exposure to the sun,
is best adapted to the culture. Mark
the rows, which should run north and
south, 3 II feet apart, by q mere
scratch Of the surface; OH these marks
sprcad literally, good barn manure !;
then turn the earth from each way over
the manure with 4 plow or shovel, ac-
cording to the size of the patch, and
form ridge eigh. or ten inches high,
the base Of which should not be dstur-
bed by the operation, and should be Il
foot wide; the top when finished, three
or four lncnes wide, on which to set the
plants. AS soon as danger Of frosts
are passed, the plants should be set Ii
to Is inches apart in the rows. Set the
plants down to the first leaf, pressing
the soil close to the root its whole
length. Moist weather is best for set
ting; but set in the after part Of the
day, well watered and shaded, they will
do nearly or quite as well. ID
\ close hard bottom is necessary to
induce the tubers to grow chubby; for
this purpose they are often grown by
laying strips Of sod along the bottom
of the ridges, and placing the manure
on this. Manure does not injure the
sweet potato, like the Irish; but TO pro-
duce abuadantly, the more used, the
better the crop. After culture con
sists in keeping down the weeds with
the hoe and rake, hauling the soil up
wards towards the plants. Lift the
vines, and keep them on top of the
ridge, several times during the season,
to prevent their roofing at the joints,
and to admit the warm rays of the sun
to the glound.
Gathering. In August you can run
the finger down beside the vino, and
when n large tuber is fult sever it from
the stem, remove it, and replace The
dirt, leaving the others to grow Af
ter the trosts have killed the vines, Sc
Jlcct the first clear, dry day, and turi
them out with fork, first cutting tn,
vines with a scythc. Dig in the fore.
noon, and let them lie till the middle o.
the afternoon, when they will be dry
| if fully exposed ON the ridges. Picl
them up, handling carefully, not tc
bruise Forprescrving for winter, pro
vide suitable boxes or barrels, talk
them into the field, and have Il quantit,
OF straw cut fine. Pack your potatoe
as carefully as you would eggs, usin.
first layer Of straw and then a Iavc
of potatoes, and thus alternately, til
the box or barrel is full, finishing witt
straw. Remove the packages to dry
cellar or room, where there will be nc
frost. and will be kept dry and warm
If placed ina cellar 'hey must be rails
ed lroie the bottom on boards, ant
kept away from the wall Kcepin.
,carm and dry are absolute essentials 70
preservation.