The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-25
THE FARM AND THE GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO HOUSE
WIFE AND AGRICULTURIST.

How to Make a Big Crop of sweet
Potatoes-Bermuda Grass-The Gull
tivation of SOrghum-Sugar and
Syrup Insect Enemies of Tobacco.
There is no crop that wakes a bet
ter return for the effort to produce
big CROP than sweet potatoes. The
splendid food that they are justifies
their cultivation, even If only fifty
bushels result OF course, we mean
fifty bushels of Georgia yam" or
pink Spanish" and not "Hayti" or
wood yams."
Even that yield of pumpkin" yams
would warrant their culture.
There are some soils that without
manure and good cultivation will not
yield more than fifty bushels of the
best table potatoes. but if one chooses
TO intensity on the crop and has soil
well adapted to their best growth
there is no need for gathering a crop
anywhere under $50 bushels. In fact,
over 1900 bushels have been raised on
an acre. Under intensive cultivation it
is not difficult matter to make 500
or 600 bushels. The best table pota-
toes are not as productive as the in
ferior kinds, but it is quite possible
to make such crop of Georgia yams
or Spanish or Bunch yams. The latter
is a very good table potato and yields
large crops.
For these the rows need not be fur
Their apart than two feet. with eighteen
inches distance in the row.
This gives 1850 hills to the acre.
If these hills are made to average only
one quart per hill, the crop is $50
bushels. Any one who has grown this
variety on good land knows that four
quarts per hill is no uncommon yield
when they have a little more space.
Smooth, healthy seed potatoes is the
first desideratum
1t is well to rub these we'll with
sulphur before bedding. For an early
crop they should be bedded under
glass with some little bottom heat,
so as to provide plants abundantly
by April 10 or Is.
II early maturity is not sought they
can be bedded in well drained warm
spot in the open, but this cannot be
done safely before March Is in the
latitude of Macon
Where one makes a speciality of po-
tatoes and follows intensive culture
SUFFICIENT cold frames should be pro-
vided for raising the plants
The grey sandy land that best suits
the potato does not call for any deep
breaking, but the surface soil should
be well prepared with harrow
and roller to receive the plants
whether they be set out in April or
in June. We have made fine crops set
out in July. However good the soil it
can be made better from the applica-
ton of mineral manure and a little nj
trogen is rarely out of place, except
where crop of pea vines preceded the
potatoes where one aimed to make
record in potato growing-that is tried
for a crop of at least roo bushels or
more, the lowest warrant of fc3tilizing
would be an application appr6ximating
the following: 500 pounds of cotton
seed meal, $500 pounds of acid phos-
phate, and 400 pounds of muriate pot
ash Cor its equivalent in cotton hull
ashes or kainit). The three should be
we'll mixed together one-half of it
lightly narrowed in broadcast at plant
ing time or a little before and the
other half to 8 weeks later. That is
In case of bunch vans being grown.
The entire 3.400 pounds can be APP
piled at the start, but it should be har-
rowed in very lightly. There will be
very little loss of valuable elements
when cotton meal is used to supply the
nitrogen. If nitrate of soda were used
1t would be different. 1t would be
wasteful to use it all at once early in
the season. In setting out, the slips
should be examined carefully and no
defective ones used.
The plants should be "grouted." That
is a mush made of clay dust, COW ma
a to-
ency that it will adhere to the roots
and stem of the plant.
A handful of blue stone and tea
spoonful of kerosine added to each
bucketful of grout is helpful in keeping
cutworms and disease away. Grouting
the plants makes them take quick hold
and prompt growth, and it will not be
many weeks before the vines cover
the ground.
There will be very little cultiva-
ton called for. 1t must be prompt,
of course. Treated as we have sug-
gested a fall crop has been made with
one blowing and one hoeing.
Should any weeds spring up and
make any show of heads they should
be pulled up in mid summer.
Fresh stable manure, any not well
composted. should never be used for
this crop. Besides being unsuitable.
1t is a carrier for all sorts of grass
and weeds that will give great deal
of trouble during the year.
There are many brands of complete
fertilizers that can be used for max
ing big crop of potatoes, using one
to two tons broadcast as the natural
quality of the soil may suggest. Any
that analyses two to three per cent.
nitrogen, ten to fourteen per cent. of
phosphoric acid, and eight to ten per
cent. of potash can be used with every
prospect of good results. other things
being equal. To get healthy plants
from a good seed you need a finely
pulyerized soil and the crop sent for
ward by cultivation just at the right
time. S. A. c.