Sharp County record., 1888-06-28
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Sweet Potato Culture.

This, perhaps, is not as valuable a
market crop as many other garden
crops, but | consider it one of the
easiest of cultivation, and no garden
or farm is complete without it, A
sandy soil is generally recommended
for this crop, but have been most
successful on rather clayey soil. The
best results follow heavy application
OF manure, yet the finest crep ever
raised was on a sod turT,od under with
out any manure. "a nrepar;ng the
land, break it lot over four inches
deep. II the mnd could be got mel
low' IL "o' lid be best not to break
the land under the ridges, but it is
not Easy to pulverize the soil with
op..d breaking all of it, The land
should be stirred every week, or at
least often enough to bring Il into fhe
condition by the time yea want to
plant. Then, with 4 small turning
plow, 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
apS.rt and the plants two feet in the
ridge. On clay soils, however, | think
it best to make hills The sweet
potato is tropical plant, needing all
the heat it can get, and hill will heat
through quicker than a 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 potatoes
than ridges, that when the potatoes
grow they crack and expand the hill
more than they can a 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 plow shallow and make
Hat hills and ridges, so as the pota-
toes grow they will reach the hard soil |
apd be checked in their downward |
growth and will develop 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 hole
with one hand, in which, as
the hand is withdrawn, is placed |
the plant with the other, and
then packed with the thumb and finger
of both hands. In picking up the
plant, take it by two or three new
small leaves and set it deep enough to
cover up all the others. In this there
are several objects. The large leaves
being covered up, do not continually,
by evaporation, weaken tho life of the
plant; if frost, which seldom comes
after setting, Injuries the top, or cut
worms cut it off, new shoots are at
once started from the base of the buried
AOovOos oO uIlttO ullc plttnO 10 nUG lVoh
II the ground be naturally moist no
watering will be necessary but if dry
give a half pint to the plant, and when
absorbed by the earth draw fresh soil
over 1t so that the surface will not
bake. As soon as the vines commence
TO grow, work them with plow and
hoe, keeping the ground clean
rssad mellow At least twice through
the season the riI.~- ehnnd be lifted
with handstick so that they WIZ not
take root at the joints and there ses
little potatoes which can never mature,
but will injure the main setting, The
earlier one can get sweet potatoes in |
market, the more profitable they will |
be. always, as soon as large enough |
TO sell, take out one to three to each
hill, taking great care not to injure the
vines or the remaining roots. This have
found, by several years's experience,
TO be good for the crop, besides get
double the price I could to wait until
digging time. The crop should be dug
when the ground is dry, and let the
potatoes dry before being stored. They
do best dug before the vines are killed
by frost. Cor. Southern Cutttrator.