Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-06-06
SWEET POTATO PRACTICE.
Planting on Ridges-How to Set tn,
Observation-Disclosures Used.

Planting on Ridges-How to Set the
Plants-ImpIements Used.
Practical sweet potato growers gen.
orally plant on ridges, the elevation
| varying from 2 to - inches. High
| ridges are most common on land that
lacks drainage, and such land is not
fit for sweet potatoes. Ordinarily the
| ridges are about six inches above the
! valleys. The ridges are made by throw
ing two burrows together with turn
ing pillow or with a disk cultivator or
"hiller." If stable manure, pine
leaves or other bulky materials are
used, they must be applied broadcast
before the ridges are made or In fur
rows previously made where the ridges
are to be thrown up. The ridges should
be made high enough to allow for har-
rowing down with a light smoothing
harrow. This is the last operation
before planting and destroys all weeds
that have started.
The ridges for sweet potatoes should
be 3 or 31a feet from center to center
unless the aim is to grow the largest
quantity possible per acre, in which
case the width may be reduced to 80
feet. The width last named is sufficient
for the "vineless" or 'bush" varieties.
Where the plants are set in rows one
way only distance Of IS inches be-
tween plants is recommended. When
planted in checks for working both
ways, they must be at least two feet
apart. The only advantage of planting
in checks is that it saves something in
hand labor on grassy ground.
A sweet potato plant should be set a
little deeper in transplanting than it
was in the plant bed SO that no part of
the stem that was protected by earth in
the bed shall be exposed in the field.
For planting by hand the ground
should be moist. but not wet. If it is
very dry, the plants should be watered
as soon as convenient after planting.
Much of the vitality of plants is saved,
particularly if the planting is done in
sunshine and wind or when the ground
Is dry, by mudding or pudding the
roots. This is done by dipping them
into batter of the consistency of thick
cream made of clay and water.
Various implements have been de-
vised to obviate the necessity of stoop-
ing in hand planting. Chief among
these are the ''tongs" which are COM
monty used in New Jersey. A simple
cOntrivance by which plants are push
ed into the loose ground at one move
ment is also used. There are several
transplanting machines with water
tanks which water each plant when
set. They are used for all kinds Of
vegetable plants and small nursery
stock.
One advantage in machine planting
is that the ground is stirred and all
weeds destroyed in the vicinity of the
plants when they are set.
The Good Effects of Apple Eating.
The apple Is srich common fruit that
few are familiar with its remarkable
efficacious properties. Everybody ought
TO know that the very best thing they
can do is to eat apples just before re-
firing for the night. The apple is an
excellent brain food. because it has
more phosphoric acid In easily digested
shape than any other vegetable known.
1t excites the action of the liver, pro-
notes sound and healthy sleep and
thoroughly disinfects the mouth. That
is not all. The apple agglutinates the
surplus acids Of the stomach. helps the
kidney secretions and is one of the best
preyentives known of diseases of the
eSroat. journal of Agriculture,