St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-04-14
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Sweet Potato Culture.

- Dry soil three
quarters sand. with q coarse. omen
suo-solL The next best is a gravelly
1oam: provided always that the sub.
so'i Is open. / find it useless tn A.,
tempt 10 grow sweet potatoes Of good
quality on damp soil. no matter how
good 1t may be in other respectA d
can scarcely be too dry. and the plants
.ro niiied up SO that the vines Win a,
= 2 mulch as little as possible.
Inc ground 10 plowed and narrowed
- Tor other potatoes The plot in Than
srked out with three-runner sled
ieng'hwise and then crosswise atriph,
angles. the runners being set so inches
apart thus making the crossings COZ
0inchcA We now take a one-h or.e
plow and strike or open a furrow
about 6 inches deep one way across
the plot A. the crossings we put about
'our quarts 1t rather coarse stable ma.
hure Chat made from corn-stalks
CUT with fodder cutter AMI placed un.
ger the horses for bedding. is the very
Oest) IN The furrOw and with . potato
FORK hill-up until the top of the hill in
or ~ inches above the level of the
ground. The plot is now ready for
receiving the sprouts. Sometimes It
Is desirable 10 plant in rows Then
We mark with the sled. as previously
described. one way only, running the
Piow through each line. and filling the
turrow with manure which is covered
with the plow by throwing . furrow
on top from each side.
For producing the sprouts we select
place on the south side Of a build inc
or light boaid fence, and open q pit
(for sprouting barrel of potatoes it
should be IA inches deep. 6 feet wide
and feet long) A frame for three
sash. 3x6 feet. is filted on the excava.
uon as Tor other ho beds. About April
III. the pit is filled with hot manure
that has previously been well-worke ed
over and well Wet so that no fire.
hanging VIII take place. After
the manure has ben placed in The pit
II must lie lfamped down solid and
smooth Now lift on sand TO the depth
OF one inch and rub it down smooth
and level. Pa o. the sash and let the
bed warm Up a little. One days brigh,
sun is generally sufficient.
The potatoes 10 be sprouted should
be Of medium size. Split them through
lengthy ise. laying he flat sides on the
sand. pressing them down firmly.
They should be as close together az
they will lie without touching each
other Then sift on sand. just enough
to keep them in place scarcely cover
ing them. Then place on the sash and
let them remain in that condition until
they have begun to sprout freely. Al
chalk line should be drawn around
the inside of the frame. two and half
inches above the tops IF the pot atoes,
and the bed should lie filed up to the
line with sifted sand. Give no water
until the sprouts begin to push
through this. the last covering, and |
then sparingly. Twelve quarts |
OF warm water will BE- sufficient for
the first watering. Care must be
taken. for if the I'D is made too vet
the potatoes are sure to rot. The sash /
should be covered at night and a
uniform temperature should BE- kept
Of say, so deg. or 90 deg. as nearly As
possible. II the bed is started and
managed in this way there will be
good. strong plants by the first of
june. and this is the time at which
prefer 10 begin setting the sprouta
When they are to be taken from the
bed. wet the sand well with water
from a watering-pot; place the fingers
OF one hand on top If the potal o to
hold ii in place while the sprouts are
pulled of wi h the other. If thew are
planted in hills We set one sprout in
the top of each hill. putting in the
plant down TO about the first leaf
pressing the earth firmly about the
roots If the sprouts are planted in
rows SCI Them in the top of the ridge
fifteen inches apart. Before the
sprouts are set III. roots should be
puddied in CLAY about the consistency
of cream. II care is taken in setting
the sprouts and the cut-worm docs not
trouble them. the loss Of the sprouts
set out Will not average over five per
,ent
The after cultivation is similar to
hat OF other kinds of potatoes. with
he exception that the sweets must be
kept well hilled up or the vines will
mulch the ground and retain too
much moisture. thus making the po- j
atOeS 9ovrv when coolol 4
Sweet potatoes should be dug with s
potato fork. especially those to be
lept for winter use. When dug. put
hem in a dry place. aud let them re- {
main there until they have done v
weating; then place them carefully a
q barrels. Scattering a little air.
Taxed lime over them as they are Fl
'laced in the barrels. Remove the O
'arrels to dry. warm room in the d
louse. A room over the kitchen. O
through the floor of which the stove.
'ipe runs uD. l have found to b. one S
1 the very best places in which to ii
eep sweet potatoes. I have kept a
hem In this manner until the follow. II
az April. with loss of less than n "
uart TO barrel If they are left in {,
ne ground mill the frost has struck d.
10 vines. The latter should be cut of %
once. as the frosted vines are like. ST
10 cause rot in The POTATOES.