The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-05-21
POtntCes-Syyee and Irish.

In northern journals and in puDncallonS
of one sort and another that issue from the
national department of agriculture, the
sweet potato crop receives but Scant recOS-
milton. On the other hand, the irish pola-
to crop, the production of which. Whlle not
confined to the north, is one OF the lead
ing features of farm production and one OF
the most profitable. In the south the Irish
potato is a common kitchen garden vegeta-
BILE every farm, and truckers ma IL
profitable for early shipment to northern
cities, but only very few farmers ana lew
families consider it an Indispensable arti-
Gle. On the contrary, at the north and west
the Irish potato has come to be the real
staff of life 1t is grown for home use
and for shipment; it is found on the table OF
every farmer, at every meal, the year
around. A western farmer could not make
a square NEAL without half dozen or 50
big potatoes by his plate. The potato is to
him what rice is to the average seacoast
Carolinian and Georgian.
Now, we would stand by the claims of the
sweet potato for the same universal recoS-
milton in the south valuable crop that
is enjoyed by the Irish potato in the north
and west. We can grow just as good Irish
potatoes and probably as many to the acre
as can our brethren across the Ohio ana
Potomac, and while they can produce only
a poor apology for a Georgia YAM or
Southern Queen" in their yellow Jerseys
and 'Nansemunds,' can grow them at
the best quality by the hundreds Of BUSH
els per acre. and with very little care or
skill We want to insist or more potatoes.
Now is he time, and 1t IS fast
passing away, to plant sweet potatoes.
We Wouldn't give a snap OF the myers
for the advantage of planting sweet pota-
to slips in April, compared with May
and June. at least south OF tennessee.
May is the best month. Planted now with
ordinary care, in well and freshly ploWed
ground, the slips vines live easily and
off
best of roots.
Most farmers set the plants too close, in
rows too narrow. The results OF expert
ments at the station show very clearly that
sweet potato rows should be three ana a
half to four feet wide and that the plants
should not be closer than eighteen inches.
Our own personal practice is in favor OF
four by two. Most farmers plant the SllpS
or vines ten to fifteen inches apart, when
is likely to result in large number of
small potatoes, and but few large ones.
The old time method OF throwing up high
beds even using the handhoe to make
them, is fast giving place to the more
modern practice OF planting on beds very
little elevated above the general level, or
about like cotton beds.
But what wanted to say was not SO
much about how to grow sweet potatoes,
but TO urge upon the southern iafIner 10
extend the area III sweet potatoes. 1t is
all very well to talk about reducing the
COTTON area ana increasing TIE oied III piO'
vision crops. But mere is a crop that may
be easily increased to double or treble the
area usually planted with very little EFFORT
or expense, and that Will give more food
to the acre than any crop that grows. 1t is
the best pork producing crop that we can
grow. Hogs are especially fond OF them
and the pork from potatO-fed hogs is fully
equal to the very best cOrn-fed. Then why
not plant Il larger area in this peculiarly
southern crop, ana make one, two or three
potatoes grow where but one grew before?
Yes, why not?