The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1870-01-19
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Planting Irish Potatoes.

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Portions of our upper country
the northern counties of South
Carolina and Georgia and Western
North Carolina and East Tennes-
sec for instance-are admirably
adapted, to the profitable cultiva.
ton of the Irish potatoe. On
the Sea Islands and in the coast
region also, we have in some local.
tiles suitable soils for their growth,
but our prevailing sandy lands and
hot, dry climate, cannot be consid-
cred naturally best fitted for this
crop. 1t requires moisture and
ceolness. To succeed, therefore.
on light, sandy soils, we must seek
.artificially- to produce these condi
tions to such an extent as is prac-
,ticable. We should first dig into
the soil, (Which should already be
rich from previous manuring.) a
large quantity of vegetable mat
ter-sW amp.muck, soil from tie
woods, decayed leav es and garden
efuse then-an important pointr
give 1t good dressing of wood
ashes, and finally plant early, so
as to give the crop the advantage
of the most favorable part Of the
season to mature. In our modes
of planting and cultivation, we
should also have tho same princi>
pie in view. s..s.. . ,-s. : s.-..
Plant Tin January or February
in deep burrows or trenches about
three feet apart, first scattering in.
to them some half rotted straw or
other litter from the stables, lot or
elsewhere. Place the sets about
eight inches apart in the trenches,
and scatter come well-rotted stable
manure over them. A slight dress.
ing is best if the ground he al
ready rich. Too much animal
manure mjures the duality Of the
tubers,, though, under favorable
circumstances, it may increase the
quantity. Your trenches should
be SO deep, that when the sets are
sufficiently covered, the surface
will be below the general level,
that the plants may get the full
benefit of all the rain that may
fall near them. After the plants
come mp, hoe them well and when
there is no longer any danger of
frost, mulch The whole patch heav-
lily with $" pine straw" leaves or
some other suitable material, to
keep the roots cool and retain the
m m1istnre. Directly after a rain, is
the best time to apply the mulch.
We wait till the frosts are over,
because the evaporation from the
damp mulch lowers the tcmpera.
ture so much as to render the
plants more liable to be cut down
If the mulch cannot be obtained
keep the ground free from weeds
by shallow level culture tilf the
vines cover the ground. Dig as
you require the tubers for use
but If the ground be not mulched,
your crop will totally disapl ear
especially if planted in sandy soil-
as soon as summer comes on, all
rottiug in the ground. The choice
of varieties is Il very important
matter here-much more so than
at the North-many kinds prov
ing utterly worthless with rs. The
Mercer and Western Red have
been favorites, but are being dis
carded- in favor of newer. .sorts
among which Jackson White
Early Goodrich and Early Rose
may be mentioned as well tested
and shown to be adapted to our
climate. ..-.....,'..... -.....
The difficulty of keeping our
early crop through the summer
renders it necessary for us to pro
cure seed potatoes from q cooler
climate, and they are usually
bought at the North, and some
times at a very high price. Our
mountain region shonld furnish
them in abundance at a lower rate
and with no liability to get frozer
on their way. Up-country pota
toe-growers, please take notice
and if you have seed potatoes t.
sell, advertise them.
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