The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-04-18
PLANTS OR SLIPS.

~ oo 'SA PdIiASollCi
PLANTS OR SLIPS.
About the first of April, or littlt
would do, prepare hot-bed for theN
If the seed potatoes are large, split
lengthwise, laying the flat side down.
pieces may be close enough to almqN
each other-the pieces to be place&
manure. Then cover them about T. ~
es deep with light rich compoS 5ssa
of fine sand, manure and good soISssSs eSc.ssaIn
mould from the woods When the sprouts
push above the ground add an inch more
of the compost. Water occasionally with
| lukewarm water. Keep the bed warm at
| night, and on fine days give them air andt
sunshine, to make them hardy. WhciS
ready to set out, the sprouts may be pulleqS
off, or the potato my be lifted out and thy
best plants selected, and the potato be rGt
turned to the hot-bed. A bushel of see$
will produce from three to five thousarf
sprouts, and every thousand which are 81 =
should produce forty bushels Of rotatoes.t (
PLANTING THE GROUND. WA
A warm sandy loan is best adapted
the culture. Mark spaces three feet apa 4
merely scratching the ground for the roSs \
which should run North and South. Gas
the marks place barn yard manure will
| fork then turn a furro@, with pillow sf
proper size, from each side toward and ~
the manure, and form ridge about ~
inches high, and finish the ridge WY
rake. The base of the ridge, which shS
be about foot in width, should notN
disturbed by the pillow. The top of TIT,
ridge, when finished, should be flat ais X
three or four inches in width. Plans
oh h,c oil frNtt
the frost is past. l have obtained Is
sized potatoes, when planted the first
July, but do not admire late planting.
PLANTING ON SOD. MI
Sweet potatoes will grow more chubN&,
| when planted on sod. Strips of sod eight
or ten inches wide can be laid in line on the
| surface of the ground, with the grass side
up, manure spread on them and the earth
| turned up on each side, so as to form q
ridge, as directed above; or piece of u. ,pc
| dow or sod ground, and the turfused asVt
base of the ridge formed by the pillow. !
SETTING THE PLANTS.
Use marker for pricking off the spaces
for the plants, sixteen inches apart. A boyl
is then able to drop the plants in the right
| places. The plant should then be put liz
IuC PIOuHIt tO"H W uIoI lSal Qhtt thC
earth pressed firmly but gently around it,
Care should be taken to set the plants when
the ground is moist, and if possible on q
cloudy day. a
AFTER TREATMENT. ~
Keep tile aceeds DORM Use hoe or rak A
raking upward toward the plants. WheM4
the plants run down the ridges, lift ar
lay them OH the toprs-anass thi sssseEa.l n
during the season, in ordel&
sun to act upon the ground, anU~s 96
them taking root.
GATHERING AND PRESERVING.
For early use feel in the ridges lanc'< Y
from the stem those that are fit For
leaving the others to grow. Fo1 Wiz
use, after the first frost select a cl4ar. drSl
day. Cut the vines with a scythe, ualvin#
the stem to which the potatoes are attacheLH
three or four inches long, to lift them
The vines are readily eaten by cattle.
q fork for raising the potatoes Lift tM
by the stem and lay them on the rids-
dry. In few hours they will be ready tS
pack. Prepare plenty of dry
(old straw is preferable,) and tai
and barrels or boxes to the fieles
the best potatoes, handling them ca XII
without bruising them. Put q la
straw at the bottom of the barrel, and S
alternate layers of potatoes and straw III
it is filled. The potatoes should be plad
close to each other, one at time and HI
died as carefully as eggs. The barrels M
then to be moved to dry room or celia n
where there will be no frost. If they arr.
placed in cellar they must be raised frog
the floor, and must not touch the WALL
Keep eca,m and dry is the secret of the #
preservation. They will keep six or eiglA3
months, and improve in quality. FroW S
one plot of ground SO by 100 feet gathd
ed in October 434 bushels. M