Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1869-05-18
AGRICuLTURE.
DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING AND cUL-
.TIyATING SWEET POTATOES.

Sweet potatoes are most readily grown on
deep, sandy SOIL but allfarmers' lands are not
sandy, and with those whose soil Is heavy
loan they may be grown Of good quality, By
proper method ofplantiug and cultivating. But
sandy soil Is the best for the production Of this
vegetable.
About the second week of May, in this latl-
tude, prepare the ground to have plants set out
4 In hills.
| Soil that Il SANDY should be ploughed seven |
inches deep; but soil that Is heavy loan, five |
inches deep; as potatoes grow short and chunky |
by shallow poughing.
After the ground Is ploughed, harrow It over
thoroughly but on soil that is heavy loan,
use the cutivator after narrowing, getting 1t In
as mellow condition as possible.
| The ground may be marked out on sandy
soil, FIVE inches deep, with plow drawing fur
, rows each wayi for hills, three and a-half feet
. apart this will give space between the rows to
farm the hills each way, with plow or cultiva-
|. tor: but on heavy SOIL burrows should be drawn
four feet apart each way, as vines run and spread
Q thick over such ground. On such soil they
IS should be further apart
a Apply to the hill a half shovelful of horsesta-
BILE manure that has been well rotted and has
T. laid at least six months in compost
e, Hoe up the earth on top Of the manure placed
q. In hill, fourteen inches high. Once hoeng
around the hill will make 1t sufficiently large.
Ne After hills arc made they are ready for plants.
al Set one sprout In hill, which Is performed by
or running the right hand down in the middle of
er the hill into the manure, and with the other
hand put In the sprout as the right hand Is being
mo- drawn out, heng careful to have all hbres Of
ms roots set In the manure and earth, when stoIno
no he pressed around tins plants. water thorough
", and Immediately cover the surface of the hills
tea slightly with dry earth, to prevent the ground
rm from becoming sodden, especially on soil that !;
ib- heavy loan.
Ing In the course oftwo weeks after the plant.
have been setout they require thorough cult
ind walton.
me- In the first place. the soil around the plants
,av should he lo0ened. This shonld be done witt
the thumb anil fire-finger; but on soil that Is
. ia heavy loan IL the ground has become sodden,
sm trowel may be used-heing careful not to dis
ny turb any roots
'"s They may be poughed once on soil that
, IN heavy loam--ofteper Qf of choice) on sandy
aoS soil. This should be done before the vines com
.ide meme to runabd spread over the ground aroun
and the plants.
"n' After vines have run and spread SO as to be
hes the way of working, they may be turned, SO 9
to leave the rows open to the pillow or cultivate
ma (cultvstor peierable,) as II does not leave ii
n A ground rldged up, and the hills have better az
the cess to the rays Of the sun. This Is importan
especially on oll that Is heavy.
NTH Turn the vines between the rows. right an
pbt left this should DO done with the hands, la!
Very ing vines on every two rows, which will civ
open way TO the pillow or cultvator.
nth. When rows are plowed or cultivated. on OF
side, hoe up the earth around the MUS OF VI
plants-then turn back the vines, and the q
cb Joining rows will be open to proceed in the
manner. After which, spread the vines over Il
next ground.
eese Durink the growine-season, on sandy soil thu
rlck should be farmed once In every two weeks, b
oser oftener on soil that Is heavy loam-spd
ami, particular to keep the earth up around the hi
wa to ensure moisture TO the plant.
They will require cultivation up to the first
wan, September, and the vines should be kept loo
lie at from growing fast to the ground, until with
Rat' two or three weeks Of the time 10 dig them.
lffor The proper time To dig them for packing
co !, the first week Of October-and should be dug,
0psss possible, before frost has killed the vines
NOV should frost come sooner to blackeE the vine
md they should be dug Immediately for if the Sc
noe J, son is stormy, and the ground keeps wet al
-e'' cold, the potatoes will take injury.
- osl Sweet potatoes, when dug, should lay in d
g " sun, If possible, to dry. But should the wealth
,a5 not permit spread them out thinly on the do
NJ in a warm, dry room, where there Ia FIRE to d
aoo them and be particular not 10 handle the
NJ roughly, bruise nor skin them, or they will r
vi - immediately.
~ had They may be packed soon as dug, If by Ia
Mics ing in the sun they are perfectly dry (and this
,a,as a much better way but II not dry Con the
ssvo they are dug,) let them dry in warr, dry roc
sln ~ as have stated, before they gro paehea
q se- ~ any quantity Of them Ia yfogetber, they "
"a ~ heat within two or hraa aays} They should
hId. packed before heating and Jhust be dry VII
10 he packed for keeping. ACC.