The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-11
Notes.

lhI9 ii''HNu inf iidillltiS vi our
sweet potatoes viii take ! good part of
our time and attention. | will give
my method Of planting o claiming
To be very good authority on growing
this crop. for ! have only grown them
for tive wears: but trusting that others
of long experience. will be induced to
give rs their methods. | grow only
for the early market. And usually
get my crop in market two or three
weeks before other planters.
Until last year | have grown the
'Bahama' or Iiainan potato as it is
called, for he earliest. But last year
| got a new red potato from Ports
mouth. that is one or two weeks ear
iier Ian the Bahama. And of much
better size. and quality. 1t is II light
red. with a very thin skin very sweet.
and different from any potato | have
ever seen. | bed in hot beds with
glass. 50 as to force the growth OF the
plant. And AN get nearly twice as
many plants from the same potatoes.
as the second and third growth can
be fastened along. before the season is
advanced. l do not set till the wealth
ct is warm. for | find that sweet pota-
toes do not stand cold wet weather
when first set. ! find also that | get
potatoes earlier by setting on the top
of a high sharp ridge. and setting very
shallow. | set with the hands; with the
right hand | open a short shallow
trench. lay in the root, and scrape
over it 4 little earth and
press down firm, leaving the
root in a horizontal position
| formerly set with a ''dibble." putting
the root down deep as | would set a
cabbage, but found that the plants
were very slow in getting off to row
ing and besides, that only the roots
which put n near the surface made
potatoes. By this method of horizontal
setting, of the roots developed
into tubers. and the WELD is increased
and | think it makes but very little
difference IN the ability Of the plant to
stand the drought. | wish our plant
ers would study more closely the hab-
it of lrowth and formation of the tu-
bers on this plant. | believe that the
sweet potato can yet be improved III
quality, ETC., as much as the Irish po-
tato has been. Aud | wish somebody
would try and save some seed this
year. The plants often bloom p~rofusely
here, but do not ripen seed. New va
~rieties could be produced from seed.
and it is Well worth trying.
How to grow tomatoes and have
them early and fine. is also a question
with many Of us. am satisfied that
i is best to prune and train the vine.
either on a treliis or stake. Pinch oil
all lateral branches as soon as a fruit
bud about It has set, leaving only one
or two main vines to grow. BY this
method the vines viii not die ont
during summer. and Will bear till
frost. Poor land viii bring the toma-
to into bearing earlier, but to have a
crop al the season. they must he
planted on strong land. Next t. the
tomato. the eggplant is the most de-
licious vegetable to grow in the gar
den. Two or three plants will supply
a family.
am using a new horse cuitiv9tor
this season tina | 10 not hesitate To
racommea "a to orr armpr a. the best
thing OF the k nd ever saw 1t j the
Plain Horse Hoe. or cultivator. The
hoes OF feet a:e adjustable, and. can
be so II anred - To take the earth
away. OF throw it to the row. |
think it will save half the labor IN
cultivating corn and cotton. Il can
be had of dea'er, in Ialei 5h.
c. +.