Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-12-26
More About Sweet Potatoes,

A0vAo AuVuv OWCCu xVthtUcS,
For the Reflector,
Kindly invited by my young frien
Leslie Perring, to take spin behind
his high stopper, Rosenante, we Wis
lted the sweet potato ranch Of Mr..
Barber, two miles west of Abilene
also that Of Barber & Hilton near by.
to learn something of the culture and
preservation Of this succulent tuber.
Mr.. Barber is n pioneer in this line
Of husbandry, having located on an
SO-acre tract of barren sand hills in
1868. The first few years were de-
voted to experimenting in various
crops and resulted in selecting melons
and sweet potatoes as most reliable,
most remunerative and best adapted
to the sandy soil.
The wisdom Of this selection Is YER
flied by results. In twenty consecu-
tive years culture of this tuber there
has never been n failure nor serious
crop shortage, the average yield meas
uring easily 100 bushels per acre, and
this without irrigation-with it the
crop may be increased 100 to 800 per
cent.
For many years this product was
sold in the home market at S1.00
to Sl.5O per bushel. This long
period Of uninterrupted prosperity
has eliminated in pleasant home
and comfortable bank account that
encourages sleep and fosters pleasant
dreams.
Mr.. Barber is an advocate of iertil-
izing and intense culture, manures
literally plows deep, prepares hot
beds in March, plants in April, cult
Yates freely in wet seasons to subduc
weeds and in dry for mulching pur-
poses harvests his crop in October
and stores in winter house con-
structed for the purpose.
The present structure is a cave-like |
room 7xl4x26 feet, all underground
except the shingled roof; has double
floor with an air chamber between;
also an air chamber around tho sides;
has capacity of 1900 bushels and a
present storage Of 1000 bushels, as
sorted into small, medium and large, !
corded up in tiers like stove wood
from floor to ceiling. The cave is
thanked on the north by small build
Ing above ground 10xl4 feet, used as
reception room and entrance to the
cave through trap door in the south
east corner.
On entering this subterranean
home Of the potato we were greeted
by swarms OF small flies or gnats,
generated by the heat from larvae de-
posted on the potatoes. We found
many of the tabers heavily bearded
with sprouts; this we were informed
was no detrimcnt. Contrary to our
ideas, that like the Irish
potato they required a temperature
barely consistent with safety from
frost, this order is reversed, reollir-
ing uniform summer heat Of about
SO degrees, or as Mr.. Barb,rexpresscd
it, "Kept in condition Of incipient
sweating" TO the touch there is a
hint of moisture and look as II fresh
" lifted from the ground.
The loss sustained from shrinkage
and decay is estimated at 25 per cent,
md unlike the Irish tuber they will
not bear asserting; if decay sets in
,hey must be left severely alone.
Messrs Barber and Hilton have also
!, 900 bushels in storage; 800 bushels
for sprouting.
The marked success Of these gentle
men and the absolute certainty Of
,rops is an object lesson to the far
ner who is impoverished by success
1--WE losses and has little left but team
md large family of children,
In the vicinity Of Abilene, Solomon
md Detroit are 10000 acres of sandy
oil peculiarly adapted to this indus \
ry, that can be bought at 50 to $40 |
N acre on easy terms of payment.
1t is suggested that these stranded
armcrs pool their small savings, buy 4
s much land as they can cover with :
first payment and 90 to work on !
lew lines and sure crops; develop this .
industry, create an outside market
nd ship in car lots. II by reason Of
reproduction or other cause the
larket price drops below the cost Of |
reduction we have a never failing |
ource Of disposal in their value for
took feeding, the large percentage OF
ugar making them Invaluable for !
lilch cows and for hogs. N
While It Is conceded that bushcl n
potatoes Is not the equivalent Of 7