The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-05

really HTSl Class SeeQS tdIllOl DC OD-
| tanned for less than three or four dol
lars except through pure accident.
Some Sweet Potato Pointers.
Writing of sweet potatoes to the
Southern Agriculturalist, Prof H. D.
Stock bridge gives some ideas that differ
from the general practice. We called
attention a few weeks ago to the fact
that some growers are almost aban-
doning the ridging up for sweet pota-
toes, finding that they make better
crops on low, fiat ridges.
The idea that cutting vines Injuries
the crop on the patch from which they
are taken is a new one. 1t would be
well to experiment by cutting from ev-
cry other row and leaving the other
rows uncut and see if there is differ
en"e in the yield.
The sweet potato is not only the sta
pie vegetable of all the Southern
states, but is somewhat remarkable in
the fact that it is even more import
ant as a market crop in sections as
far removed and different Circumstance
ed as New Jersey and Iowa. Wherever
grown the crop attains the prominence
Of a standby produce. Successfully cul-
tivated in widely separated and very
different sections. in which it has be
come almost as common as corn, 1t is
somewhat singular that many of the
more common methods followed are so
faulty.
Some of my own personal experience
showing the advantage of changing
certain practices in cultivation and fer
tilizing the crops, | have thought
worth presenting to other growers.
one of the Commonest mistakes,
great IV increasing Of
the crop, particularly in the South, is
the persistent practice of ridging the
land on which potatoes are set. True
the potato thriVes on much land so wet
that ridging is necessary for freeing
the plants. However, they had better
be grown on soils more easily and
cheaply worked. The most frequent
cause for the practice of high ridging
results from the known advantage of
d deep and mellow soil With modern
implements this depth and mellowness
of bed can be much more effectively
and cheaply obtained than by means
of the common hoe-made ridge. Deep
blowing and thorough working produce
equal results at a great saving of la
Dor The disc pillow, which will thor
oughly pulverize to a depth of sixteen
inches, without bringing the subsoil to
the surface most effectively accom-
pushes thi9 NllNs anu leaves the SOIL Ill
perfect condition for the plants, with
out hand labor.
The practice of using sets cuttings
instead of draws from the seeded is
followed under such misconception
The two sources of plants for trans
planting are equally productive so far
as crop produced is concerned; but ev-
cry set taken from the early crop for
setting the later field reduces the crop
of the former. The practice should
only be followed when the convenience
of using sets will compensate for nee
essarily smaller crop from the field
from which the sets are taken.
In the fertilizing of the crop, mistakes
are common. The most frequent is
probably that too small quantities are
used and that especially of potash,
which is of great Importance in sweet
potato growing. Attention should also
be given to use the right form of pot
ash.
of sulphate and muriate of potash on
my own crop. The result was in favor
of the sulphate.
My experience is that under average
conditions of soil, the most satisfactory
application consists of about 200 pounds
of acid phosphate, 200 of cotton seed
meal, 20 of nitrate of soda and 100 of
sulphate of potash. The total applica-
ton would be $40 pounds, with an APP
proXimate composition of per cent.
phosphoric acid. nitrogen and pot
ash. The total application may be
changed to meet different conditions of
fertility; but my experience, under
many conditions. indicates that these
proportions cannot be materially
changed without risk to diminishing
crop. Changing these proportions is
particularly disastrous in the case OF
nitrogen and potash.
A careful trial of diminishing the
quantity of nitrogen one-half resulted
in reducing the crop more than one
third The loss in value of crop was
more than eight times the amount OF
the saving in the cost of fertilizer
showing n very serious loss from the
attempted economy in the amount OF
nitrogen applied.
My attempts to reduce the amount OF
proportion of potash have been equally
pronounced and unsatisfactory In re-
suits. Omitting one-half of the amount
/ of potash recommended has resulted in
an average diminishing of the crop BY
| twenty bushels per acre. The saving
| I'm cost of fertilizer would am)unt &c
about 81. obtained at the loss Of $50 oi
potatoes. The false economy - ths
| practice is easily apparent. 70 rtrmei
can afford to attempt TO dispen3a viii
| a little potash at such "A loss. Cntof-
| tunately, there are many sweet pntatt
! growers who are attempting this "pen.
| ny wise and pound foolish" economy. 4
| careful comparative test on few rows
side by side, would forcibly coiN'nc,
| them, as il lid me, of "A Sc '.CUs anl
! costly mistake In their practice.
Preserving the Fertility of CuItIvat.
ed Soils.
Soils that were naturally rich such
as our oak and hickory lands were
| when first opened for cultivation. al