Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-06-28
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Sweet Potato Culture.

market crop as many other garden
crops, but | consider it one of the
easiest OF cultivation, and no garden
or farm is complete without II. A
sandy soil is generally recommended
for this crop, but ! have been most
successful oh rather clayey soil. The
best results follow a heavy application
OF manure, yet the finest crop ! ever
raised was an d sod turned under with
out any manure. In preparing .iie
land, break it not ever four inches
deep. II TIE Land could be got mel
low, 1t would be best not to break
the land under the ridges, but it is
not easy to rulyeri2e the soil with
out breaking all of it. The land
Should be stirred every week, or at
least often enough to bring it into fine
condition by the time you want to
plant. Then. with "a small turning
pillow, throw two burrows together SO
as to make a small ridge about a foot
high and not over eighteen inches
broad. The ridges may be three feet
apart and the plants two feet in the
ridge, On clay soils, however, 7 think
ii best to make hills. The sweet
potato is a tropical plant, needing all
the heat it can get, and hill will heat
through quicker than ridge; for the
same reason small ridges when used
are best. Many growers make large,
high hills and ridges; let some try
small ridges and hills and note the
difference in yield and quality of the
crop. There is another reason why
hills grow larger and better potatnes
.han ridges, that when the potatoes
grow they crack and expand the HIN
more than they can a ridge, giving
more room for growth,
The most saiable potato is one that
is short and thick, and 1t ss t6 produce
these that you Prov shallow and make
fiat hills and RIGGS, so as the pota-
toes grow they will reach the hard soil
and be checked in their downward
growth and viii develop thickness,
In forming the ridges, throw liberal
dressing Of ashes on them and finish
up with the hoe. After smoothing the
ridge with rake it Il .1eady to set.
This is done BY making hole
with One hand, in which, as
the hand is Withdrawn, is placed
the plant with the other, an6
then packed with the thumb and finger
of both hands. In picking Up The
plant take it by two Or three new
small leaves ard set it deep enough I'd
cover up all the others. In this there
are several objects. The large leaves
being covered up, do not continually
by EVAPORATION, weaken the life of the
plant; if a frost, which seldom come,
after setting Injuries the top, or cut.
worms cut it off, new shoots are a.
once started from the base of the buried
leaves, so that the plant Is not lost
If the ground be naturally moist; ht
watering will be necessary; but If dry
give half pint to the plant, and wher
absorbed By the earth draw fresh sol
over it so that the surface will not
bake. As soon as the vines commenc,
to grow, work them with pillow ant
hoe, keeping the ground cleal
and mellow, At least twice through
the season the vines should be LITE,
with handstick 50 that they will no
take root at the joints and there sc
little potatoes which can never mature
but Will injure the main setting. Tn
earlier one can get sweet potatoes i
market, the more profitable they will
be. always, rs soon as large eneug
to sell, take out one to three to eac
hill, taking great care not to injure tn
, vines orthe remaining roots This hav
, found, by several years's experience
to be good for the crop, besides &c
: double the price could to wait unit
digging time. The crop should be du
when the ground is dry, and let tn
pot atoes dry before being stored. The
do best dug before the vines are kille
b, frost. Il Cor. Southern Culticdtor.