The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-19
irish and Sweet Potatoes.

Irish ana sweet POTATOES.
These two esculents have a great bear
ing upon the we'll being and happiness of
the world-the American world especi-
allv. Twenty-Five or thirty years ago, so
far as this country was concerned, the
line dividing the two crops was more dis
tinctly drawn than it is now. Compare
lively few sweet potatoes were grown in
our northern states, and likewise but few
Irish potatoes were grown in the
south, outside of the little plats
in the home-gardens where the
product. if not consumed on the home
table was given away. In late years,
however, the sweet potato has steadily
encroached upon northern attitudes
while the cultivation of the Irish potato
has been increased ten fold in the south
ern states
What the value of these two potatoes
is to The Two sections, can hardly be cal
culated The imperfect statistics tabu-
lated by the department of agriculture
fail to answer this question, but the
statement that they are of iuestimable
value to this country cannot be disputed.
It may be safely predicted that from now
on the area devoted TO the two potatoes
will annually grow larger. The north
will grow more sweet potatoes, and the
SOQLU Will pEODdDly COubluuC W llCIBdS6
her Irish potato acreage, especially the
second crop. 1t needs be that there
should be a great increase in
this respect. There is no section
of the northern states, where corn is sue
cessfully grown, where sweet potatoes
cannot be proftably cultivated for home
use, if for no other purpose. The only
question would be, are the potatoes val
ued sufficiently as food to warrant any
tp ie ha in
the south, many would not, for human
use, give one bushel of sweet potatoes for
ten bushels Of the Irish, so there are, per-
haps like number at the north who
would not give a bushel Of Irish potatoes
for ten Of sweet potatoes 1t is a matter
of taste.
A few brief notes on the culture of
sweet potatoes, doubtless, may be of in
terest to your readers.
There are great many varieties, rang
ing from the dry, "mealy," sugarless
kinds up to varieties characterized by
sweetness and ''iuicyness." AS a rule,
northern preference is for the first quail
ity; the south prefers the latter kind
1t is an easy crop to grow In the past
few years bunch or vineless variety ha s
been discovered. and quite extensively
brought into cultivation, and which rem
ders It's cultivation easier than hereto
fore. This bunch variety has no vine, -
IN the ordinary sense of the word. The
tops or stems are no longer than those of
The taller growing Irish potatoes, and, of
course, there is no call for vine turning
as is the case with the ordinary kinds so
long IN cultivation. In one instance, at
least, this Characteristic is not at the eX-
pense Of quality. The true bunch yellow
yam, IN respect to edible qualities,
we regard as about equal to the old
well known Georgia yellow yam" which
Is generally esteemed as a perfect table
potato as southern taste goes. 1t has
long vines AS is the case with the but
Ter bean, while the discovery of bunch
poJatoe Will be great boon and satisfac-
Ulon TO many, still it will not retire from
cultivation the long-vine sorts. After all
ihe contest will hinge upon quality A
ouHch sort, of poor quality (of either veg
elaDie) Will not be chosen in preference
10 those of good quality with long vine
but equal IN other respects as a matter
u course yinelesS kind would be
4 chosen
For field culture neither cold frames
nor hotoeds are necessary for providing
4 pants IN the south, but at the north it is
desirable TO use one or the other so that
SJocky, wel-rooted plants are assured for
.ue earliest moment it is safe
70 set out in the open ground
wen at the north, however, a
wen managed cold frame is all sufficient.
AIler preparing the soil properly keep
tle sash on for some days in advance of
g9eadlng. Lay the seed potatoes in the
;LdtAe an inch or so apart, ana cover
nlCues deep with fine soil. Water with
warm water 1902 andl 1922 and keepon the
sasH until signs of sprouting are detected;
men men Keep sash off in warm part of the
Jay Apply just enough water to keep
yle plants in healthy growth. Bed the
t tb"u III Tune to receive the plants. For
que punch sorts 2I6 or 3 feet: for the ordi-
Iagy long vine sorts 81 or 4 feet These
Dsu9 should be thrown up with a turn
oIo1 eI. Set the plants 10 TO Is inches
Sp ',..t IN The row. Give enough shallow
'1yr,,llFatlon TO keep just ahead of weeds
a ooH t reserve for anothernumber remarks
r ~ Aanlrlng and Cultivating the Sweet
IolaJo,' and for another Growing the
q C C-'tlu Crop of Irish Potatoes in the