The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1901-10-17
inches between them Is recommended.
When they are planted in checks they

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must be at least three feet apart.
Men have been known to plant by
hand with the assistance OF n boy
to drop the plants 10000 plants in
ten hours, but 5000 may be consid-
cred n days work. Various implc-
ments have been devised to obviatc
the necessity for STOPPING in hand
planting. Chief among these are the
tongs which are commonly used in
the business. There are several
trausplanting machines provided with
water tanks from which each plant Is
watered automatically when it is set
These planters do excellent work aud
make the planter independent Of
rain"
The sweet potato requires frequent
cultivation and il is absolutely ncccs-
ssry that the ground be kept free
from weeds and grass. Tho most
critical period IN the life Of u plant
begins when ii is transplanted and
ends when IL starts to send out Wig
orous vines. During this period only
are insects to be dreaded.
A small crop Of sweet potatoes
may be harvested by throwing them
out with II common turning plow.
In large operations one of the most
efficient implements for harvesting is
known as the scoop.digger, which
passes under the tubers and sewers
all the roots. but leaves the plant.
with vines aud roots cut. in the same
position which II occupied before.
After the potato Is dug it should
be left for several hours to dry in The
SUI. Under favorable conditions
IN check planting barrel of primes
from 100 hills Is good Weld. In a
good crop there will be a barrel OF
seconds to about every live barrels OF
primes.
One thing which the planters soon
,uI ,ut L. sko, Tho .yont pntatn a. iI
not bear any rough handling, and foI
this reason the potatoes are more
commonly shipped in barrels oi
crates than in bulk. When they art
packed in barrels Tho barrels should
be filed loosely and covered will
burlap, or doublc-hcaded. lu speak
ing of the causes for difference in val
nc Mr.. Ncsbit says:
at will not be con,cndcd seriousl,
that any small section or state has I
monopoly Of the conditions rcquisit,
for producing sweet potatoes OF thu
best quality. Jersey sweets do no
command the bcs, price because the,
are produced in New Jersey. Man,
Of them do not even pass through tn,
state and no better sweet pOtatoc
are produced anywhere than in tn,
Southern states. The truth seems I,
be that some entcrprising grower
in New Jersey took the lead il
adopting standards In appearance
aud quality, in grading uniforml
aud packing carefully, IN giving thci
best product a distinctive name al,
putting il on the market in the bcr
possible condition
In speaking of markets and price
he continues: "Swcct potatoes tina
iesch the market by rail or waite
transportation are sold as u rule b
produce commission merchants. VIII
charge from B to 10 per cent for thcj
services. The disadvantages OF tram
porting 10 and selling In distant ma
kcts are reduced TO the minimum
when farmers organize and sc
through n common agent.
"This truth is Illustrated In III
history of the produce exchange q
the eastern shore Of Virginia. Bcfol
the formation OF the exchange Il
crop was put up in a careless WA
without grading, aud sold wi,ho'
inspection. The prices obtained We
necessarily very low aud the who
business was unsatisfactory In Il
extreme. In less than two years
good degree Of order has taken pln
of former chaos. In other parts