Nevada County picayune., 1888-07-04
Sweet Potato Culture

This, perhaps, IS not as Valuabie market crop as maAy other garden crops. but l consider it one of the easiest of cultivation. and no garden or farm is complete without it. A sandy soil i. general, recomme nded for this crop, but l have been most successful on rather clayey soil. The best results follow heavy appli- cation of manure. yet the finest crop I ever raised was on a sod turn cd under with out any manure. In preparing the land. break 1t not over four inches deep If the land could be got mellow. it would he best not to break the land under the ridges, but it is not easy to pulverlze the soil without 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 small turning blow, throw two furrows together so as to make small ridge about foot high and not over eighteen inches broad. The ridges may be three feet apart and the plants two feet in ridge. On clay sails, however, l think it best to make hills. The sweet potato is a tropical plant need ing all the heat it can get, and a hill will heat through quicker than a ridge; for the same reason small rid ges when used are the best. Many growers make large. high hills and ridges let som 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 potatoes grow they crack and expand the hill more than they can ridge, giving more room for growth.
 The most salable potato is one that is short and thick, and it is to produce these that you blow shallow and make fat hills and ridges, so as the potatoes grow they will reach the hard soil and be checked in their downward growth and will develope thickness. In forming the ridges throw liberal dressing of ashes on them and finish up with the hoe. After smoothing the ridge with a rake it is ready to set. This is done by making 8 hole with one hand. in which, as the hand is withdrawn, is placed the plant with the other hand then packed with the the thumb and finger of both hands. In picking uI the plant. take it by two or three new small leaves and set it deep enough te cover up all the others. la this tSere Hse several objects. The large leaves being covered up, do not con tinuc by evaporation, weaken tho lie of the plant if frost, which sel dom comes after setting, injures the top or cutwoams cut it off. new shoots are at once started from tho base of the buried leaves, SO tha, the plant i- not lost. If the ground be natural moist. no watering will be necessary. but if dry give half pin to the plant and when absorbed bN the earth draw fresh soil over it SC that tfc surface will not bake. A soon as the vines commence to grow work them with blow and hoe, keep ing the ground clean and mellow At least twice through the seasol the vines should he lifted with |, handstick so that they will not talk, root at the joints and there set littl potatoes which can never mature hut will injure the main setting The earlier one can get sweet pota toes in market. the more profitable l will be. l always as soon as large enough to sell. take out one to thrc, to each hill. taking great care not t' injure the vines or remaining roots This have found, by several year experience, to he good for the crop besides get double the price l coulC to wait until digging time. Tn, crop should be dug when the ground is dry. and let the potatoes dry be fore being stored They do best du! before the vines are killed bv frost Cor. southern Cultivator
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