The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-07
Sweet Potatoes,

Within circuit Of thirty or forty miles around
Norfolk, the soil is peculiarly adapted to the
growth OF sweet potatoes. They are shipped to
the North, from this port, and the surrounding
country in large quantities. We have never
known them to be shipped abroad, to any consid-
cradle extent.
The following article from the Alexandria
Gazette would lead us to hope that in few years,
we shall have sweet potato packers as well as
oyster packers, at work in our harbor. Wehave
before met with the author of the article quoted.
He first introduced into our Navy-yard dry pres
sed bricks, out OF which many OF the most extern
sive houses are built. He is a man who looks
upon all questions as open questions, and is not
afraid to follow with his money, where his judg-
ment leads
We trust that all Mr. Smith says about the
dried sweet potato may be fully realized
ALLOW me to invite your attention to recent
discovery, which must prove invaluable to the
South, now that cotton can no longer be proftably
raised.
Cotton had been known for generations, but
only to supply the family need, until Whitney S
genius responded to worlds demand. So also
the sweet potato can be grown i'll fabulous guam
titles but perishablc nature confines it to home
consumption.
Experiments have been made, establishing
facts OF great Importance relative to the sweet
potato.
"A bushel when pared with the knife and this
wastes much, weighs 81 pounds but when dried
only enpounds having lost three tourths i'll bulk:
and four ftths in weight! Half pound, when
boiled three-quarters of an hour Ill an earthen
vessel, tin dscolors,) fills large dish, in color
and flavor precisely like the root on your table
at this season OF the year. Twenty cents dish
would not be considered high, and yet it gives
three dollars and seventy cents to the planter,
twenty cents that OF boxing and freight to mar
ket. Now strike off one-half fer margin and
merchants profit, and did cotton ever pay like
this? when you consider that five hundred bush
els to the acre Is not uncommon.
! ''lou are aware that the sweet potato has I'M
dergone chemical change few weeks at er be-
ing dug At first it is dry and mesy and an
universal favorite; but then it becomes soft and
sossgy, and is rejected by many. 1t is evident
that no such change can take place in the speci-
men enclosed hard as flint stone. This delicious
vegetable, theretores Can now be placed on the
table every day Of the year in its best condition.
| There must be great foreign demand, for
| in Europe it is scarcely known, and eveu in our
own country, West and North, it is seldom seen.
You Will also find specimen of desicated
Irish potato. The first trial Was complete fail
ure; they came forth almost black, and [ gave it
up in despair; but subsequently reflection sug-
gestcd that when boiled they became white
what the difference? Accordingly, they were
submitted for a few minutes to steam. in order
that the outer surface might be cooked, to form
! a mucillage mpervious to the atmosphere The
result was very gratifying-they appeared bright
and almost seluitransparent. When boiled and
compared with others you can perceive no diff
ference
lit is evident they will keep during the long
est voyage. How valuable for sea stores, with
only one fourth the original bulk, and one-fith
the original weight! How important. too, in "a
sanitary point OF view, for there is oscurvy with
potatoes twice week.
"FRANCIs Fl. SMITH.
Baltimore March &c 1868"